Psalm 4–6

Safety in Yahweh

4For the music director; with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.^a

¹When I call, answer me, O God of my righteousness.^b

In trouble deliver me.^c

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

²O sons of man, how long will my honor^d be a disgrace?

How long will you love vanity?

How long will you seek lies?^e Selah

³But know that Yahweh has set apart^f for himself the faithful one.^g

Yahweh hears when I call to him.

⁴Be disturbed but do not sin.

Commune in your heart^h on your bed and be silent. Selah

⁵Offer correct sacrifices,ⁱ

and trust in^j Yahweh.

⁶Many are saying, “Who will show us something good?”

Lift up over^k us the light of your face, O Yahweh.

⁷You have put gladness in my heart

more than when^l their grain and their wine abound.

⁸In peace I will lie down and sleep at once,^m

for you alone, O Yahweh, make me dwell safely.

A Prayer for Guidance and Protection

5For the music director; with the flutes. A psalm of David.^a

¹Hear my words, O Yahweh.

Give heed to my sighing.^b

²Listen to the sound of my pleading,^c my king and my God,

for to you I pray.

³O Yahweh, in the morning you will hear my voice.

In the morning I will set forth^d my case to you and I will watch.^e

⁴For you are not a God who desires^f wickedness.

Evil cannot dwell with you.

⁵The boastful do not stand before^g your eyes.

You hate all evildoers.

⁶You destroy speakers of lies.^h

A man of bloodshedⁱ and deceit Yahweh abhors.

⁷But as for me,^j through the abundance of your steadfast love^k

I will enter your house.^l

I will bow down^m toward your holy templeⁿ in awe of you.

⁸O Yahweh, lead me in your righteousness because of my enemies;

make straight before me your way.

⁹For there is not anything reliable in his mouth;

their inner part is destruction.^o

Their throat is an open grave;

with their tongue they speak deceit.^p

¹⁰Treat them as guilty, O God;

let them fall because of their plans.

Because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,

for they have rebelled against you.

¹¹But let all who take shelter in you rejoice.

Let them ever^q sing for joy,

because^r you spread protection over them;

And let those^s who love your name exult in you.

¹²For you bless the righteous.

O Yahweh, like a^t shield you surround him with good favor.

An Appeal for Forgiveness and Deliverance

6For the music director; with stringed instruments, on the Sheminith.^a

A psalm of David.^b

¹O Yahweh, do not rebuke me in your anger,

and do not discipline me in your wrath.

²Be gracious to me, O Yahweh, because I am feeble.

Heal me, O Yahweh, for my bones are terrified.

³My soul is also very terrified.

But you, O Yahweh, how long?

⁴Turn, O Yahweh; deliver my life.^c

Save me for the sake of your steadfast love.^d

⁵For there is no remembrance of you in death.

In Sheol, who will give thanks to you?

⁶I am weary with my groaning;

I flood^e my bed every night.

With my tears I drench^f my couch.

⁷My eye wastes away because of vexation;

it grows old because of all my oppressors.

⁸Depart from me, all workers of evil,

for Yahweh has heard the sound of my weeping.

⁹Yahweh has heard my plea;

Yahweh has accepted my prayer.

¹⁰All my enemies shall be ashamed and shall be very terrified.

They shall turn back; they shall suddenly be ashamed.