I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist's declaration of singing, despite the preceding sorrow, hinges on a profound understanding of God's recompense. This isn't just about feeling better; it's about recognizing that God has actively repaid him with favor, so much so that future praise is already a present reality.
I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm begins with a desperate cry to God, feeling forgotten and abandoned, lamenting the enemy's triumph. After wrestling through prayer and petition, the psalmist dramatically shifts from despair to confidence, expressing a sure hope in God's saving mercy and ultimately resolving to sing praise.
This tiny verse marks a dramatic shift in the Psalm. It's the moment when sorrow gives way to singing. How does this transformation happen?
Psalm 13 begins with a raw cry of despair: "How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever?" (v. 1). The psalmist feels abandoned, his pleas unanswered. Yet, in the very next breath, he resolves, "I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me."
The Foundation of Faith
This isn't a denial of the pain; it's a choice born out of a deeper reality. The psalmist isn't singing despite his circumstances, but because he knows God's character. Even in the midst of his struggle, he remembers God's consistent goodness.
A Present Reality
Notice the tense: "he has dealt bountifully." It's not about future hope alone, but recognizing God's past and present actions. This assurance fuels his song, turning his lament into a testament to God's faithfulness.
The phrase "dealt bountifully" sounds like a huge blessing. What does this incredible generosity from God truly entail, especially when things are hard?
The Hebrew word used here, 'gamel,' essentially means to deal with someone, to treat them. When used in this context, it signifies a positive, kind, and favorable treatment. It speaks to God's generous actions towards us, beyond what we deserve.
More Than Just Blessings
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This bounty isn't limited to material blessings or the absence of trouble. It encompasses:
A Glimpse of Future Glory
When the psalmist declares God "has dealt bountifully," he's not just recalling past kindness. He's expressing absolute confidence that God's goodness will continue, leading to future salvation and praise. It's a faith that sees the unseen.
Understand the original words
shir · Hebrew Verb
A verb expressing the act of expressing joy, praise, or worship through musical vocalization. In the Psalms, it is a frequent response to God’s deliverance, character, or mighty acts.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the one true God (YHWH/Yahweh), the covenant-making, self-existent, and redeeming God of Israel. It is the name revealed to Moses and carries the weight of His holiness, faithfulness, and eternal presence.
gamal · Hebrew Verb
This verb implies a lavish, generous, or abundant rewarding. It carries the sense of God bestowing benefits, grace, or fruitfulness upon an individual beyond what might be expected or deserved.
This passage echoes the transition from sorrow to joy found in Psalm 13, highlighting that while sadness may linger through the night, joy breaks forth with the morning, much like the psalmist's shift from complaint to praise.
Isaiah 12:1-2This prophetic song expresses a similar sentiment of turning from past despair to present praise, declaring 'I will give thanks to you, LORD. Although you were angry, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.'
Luke 1:46-49Mary's Magnificat is a powerful song of praise from someone who recognizes God's immense favor, proclaiming 'My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant... for the Mighty One has done great things for me—how holy is his name!'
Romans 8:28This verse provides the theological framework for understanding God's bountiful dealings, assuring believers that 'in all things God works for the good of those who love him,' even in times of distress, leading to eventual praise.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4This passage speaks to God's comfort in times of trouble, which enables believers to comfort others, mirroring the psalmist's experience of receiving God's kindness and then being moved to sing His praises.
clarkePsalms 13:6: "I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."
I will sing unto the Lord - That heart is turned to God's praise which has a clear sense of God's favor. Because he hath dealt bountifully with me - כי גמל עלי ki gamel alai, because he hath recompensed me. My sorrows were deep, long continued, and oppressive, but in thy favor is life. A moment of this spiritual joy is worth a year of sorrow! O, to what blessedness has this godly sorrow led! He has given me th…
gillPsalms 13:6: "I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."
I will sing unto the Lord,.... In prayer faith is encouraged, through believing the heart is filled with joy; and this joy is expressed by the lips, in songs of praise to the Lord, ascribing the glory of salvation to him, and giving him thanks for every mercy and blessing of life; because he hath dealt bountifully with me; both in a way of providence and grace, granting life and preserving it, and supporting wi…
The psalmist's declaration of singing, despite the preceding sorrow, hinges on a profound understanding of God's recompense. This isn't just about feeling better; it's about recognizing that God has actively repaid him with favor, so much so that future praise is already a present reality.
This psalm begins with a desperate cry to God, feeling forgotten and abandoned, lamenting the enemy's triumph. After wrestling through prayer and petition, the psalmist dramatically shifts from despair to confidence, expressing a sure hope in God's saving mercy and ultimately resolving to sing praise.
This psalm begins with a desperate cry to God, feeling forgotten and abandoned, lamenting the enemy's triumph. After wrestling through prayer and petition, the psalmist dramatically shifts from despair to confidence, expressing a sure hope in God's saving mercy and ultimately resolving to sing praise.
"I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me." — The psalmist's declaration of singing, despite the preceding sorrow, hinges on a profound understanding of God's recompense. This isn't just about feeling better; it's about recognizing that God ha…
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Last reviewed October 2026