Psalms – Chapter 13

Old Testament7 Verses

Chapter Summary

Psalms 13 opens with the words: "Unto the end, a psalm for David. The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their…" The chapter centers on David and Jacob. Across its 7 verses, two threads run through the text: justice and care for the poor and God feeding His people. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1Unto the end, a psalm for David. The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their ways: there is none that doth good, no not one.

2The Lord hath looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there be any that understand and seek God.

3They are all gone aside, they are become unprofitable together: there is none that doth good: no not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they acted deceitfully: the poison of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and unhappiness in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.

4Shall not all they know that work iniquity, who devour my people as they eat bread?

5They have not called upon the Lord: there have they trembled for fear, where there was no fear.

6For the Lord is in the just generation: you have confounded the counsel of the poor man; but the Lord is his hope.

7Who shall give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when the Lord shall have turned away the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Important Verses in Psalms 13

Unto the end, a psalm for David. The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their ways: there is none that doth good, no not one.

Psalms 13:1

Shall not all they know that work iniquity, who devour my people as they eat bread?

Psalms 13:4

Who shall give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when the Lord shall have turned away the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Psalms 13:7

Historical Context

Psalms belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for god's people at prayer in every age. Chapter 13 of 150 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a liturgical poem composed for Temple worship and personal prayer with 7 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. David and Jacob appear at the center of the events recorded here. The chapter begins: "Unto the end, a psalm for David. The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become…" The final verse reads: "Who shall give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when the Lord shall have turned away the captivity of his people,…" The wider setting of Psalms is this: The 150 Psalms are the inspired prayer book of Israel and of the Church, spanning every human emotion—praise, lament, thanksgiving, repentance, and hope. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile.

Who Wrote It

David is credited with many psalms; others by Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, and anonymous psalmists

When It Was Written

Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile

Catholic Commentary

The poem's language was meant to be prayed aloud, giving voice to the full range of human experience before the Lord. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Unto the end, a psalm for David. The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their ways: there is none…" The passage repeatedly touches on justice and care for the poor.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 721). Here, the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize justice and care for the poor as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God invites us to bring all our emotions to Him. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Psalms 13 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.
  • From the manna to the Last Supper, God feeds His people — fully in the Eucharist.
  • True conversion means turning away from sin and returning to God with our whole heart.

People in This Chapter

David1 mentionJacob1 mention

Reflection for Today

Sacred Scripture presents Psalms Chapter 13 as a unique stage in salvation history, not merely as background to other books.

St. Thomas Aquinas and other Fathers of the Church meditated on texts like this one, seeing in them instruction for the spiritual life. the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589). The passage calls believers to grasp that God invites us to bring all our emotions to Him.

Let Psalms Chapter 13 deepen your love for the Eucharist, where the Word made flesh continues to feed His people. The same Christ who speaks in Scripture offers Himself sacramentally on the altar.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Psalms Chapter 13 about?

Psalms 13 contains 7 verses. It opens with "Unto the end, a psalm for David. The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become…" and closes with "Who shall give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when the Lord shall have turned away the captivity of his people,…". The book as a whole is liturgical poetry and prayer.

What is a key verse in Psalms 13?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Unto the end, a psalm for David. The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their ways: there is none that doth good, no not…" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Psalms Chapter 13?

This chapter mentions David, Jacob.

Who wrote Psalms and when?

David is credited with many psalms; others by Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, and anonymous psalmists. Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile.

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