This is Psalm of David. How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me. In reference to Zechariah 7:13, the Talmud (Sanhedrin 104a) teaches "measure for measure." God said to the people of Israel, "How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?" (Exodus 16:28), "How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me?" (Numbers 14:11), and "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who murmur against Me?" (Numbers 14:27).
In response, the people of Israel said, "How long?" four times (Psalm 13:1, 79:5, 89:47, and 90:13). Therefore, God said to the people of Israel, "I will deliver you into the hands of four kingdoms, and you will say 'How long' four times" (Sanhedrin 104a). The phrase "How long" is repeated in Psalm 13:1, expressing David's plea to God to end his suffering and show him mercy.