Psalm 27:13-14 is about holding on to confidence in God’s goodness while you wait for him to act. David expresses his certainty that he will see the LORD’s goodness during his lifetime, and then urges himself and his listeners to wait, stay strong, and keep courage in their hearts. The passage sits near the close of a psalm written in a time of danger and false accusation, so it reads as hard-won trust rather than easy optimism.
13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:13-14 (WEB)
Psalm 27:13-14 Summary
The passage moves in two steps. First, David states a settled conviction: he is still confident that he will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. The phrase “still confident” signals that this faith has been tested. He has just prayed to be kept from his enemies, and the psalm has described false witnesses rising against him, so his confidence is something he chooses to affirm rather than something his circumstances supply.
Second, he turns that conviction into instruction. “Wait for the LORD” is repeated for emphasis, paired with two commands: be strong and let your heart take courage. Waiting here is not passive. It is an active trust that refuses to take matters into one’s own hands while God’s timing unfolds.
Context of Psalm 27:13-14
Psalm 27 is traditionally attributed to David and belongs to the Psalms, the Hebrew book of praise and prayer. The psalm is typically read as the prayer of someone under threat, surrounded by enemies and possibly even abandoned by family, as verse 10 suggests. Its audience is the worshiping community as well as the individual, since many of the psalms were sung and prayed together in Israel’s worship.
The surrounding verses, 10 through 17, show the emotional range that makes verses 13 and 14 meaningful. David names his fear and the cruelty of his opponents, and he asks God for guidance and protection. The confidence of verse 13 arrives in the middle of that pressure, which is why the instruction to wait in verse 14 carries weight. The psalm does not pretend the danger is gone; it holds trust and distress together.
Psalm 27:13-14 Verse by Verse
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
(WEB)
This verse invites stillness before God in the middle of a turbulent world. Like Psalm 27, it calls the believer to trust God’s sovereignty rather than to panic or strive in fear. Both passages show that quiet confidence is a form of worship.
Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.
(WEB)
Isaiah speaks of those who wait on the LORD and find renewed strength. The language of waiting and strength echoes the call to be strong in Psalm 27, linking patient trust with the restoration of energy and hope.
A Prayer Based on Psalm 27:13-14
Lord, I confess that waiting is hard for me. My mind runs ahead to worst-case scenarios, and my heart grows tired when answers seem slow in coming. Still, I want to say what David said: I am confident that I will see your goodness in this life. Help me remember your faithfulness in the things I have already seen. Give me strength to stay steady and courage to keep trusting when I cannot see the way forward. Teach me to wait for you with a heart that is open and unafraid. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to wait for the LORD in Psalm 27:14?
Waiting for the LORD means trusting that he will act in his own timing while you remain faithful in the meantime. It is active trust rather than passive resignation. The psalm pairs waiting with strength and courage, which shows that patience requires inner resolve.
Who wrote Psalm 27 and when?
Psalm 27 is traditionally attributed to David, though the exact date and setting are not stated in the text. Scholars generally read it as a prayer from a time of danger and opposition. Its authorship and origin are discussed in commentary, but the message of trust is clear regardless.
Does Psalm 27:13 mean that every prayer will be answered in this life?
The verse expresses confidence that God’s goodness will be seen in the land of the living, but it does not promise a particular outcome for every request. It speaks to God’s faithful character and to the hope that rests on it. Believers have long understood this as trust in God’s wisdom and love, even when answers come differently than expected.
