Logos Bible Study

Psalm 4:1–8

The NET BibleOther versions

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4:1When I call out, answer me,

O God who vindicates me!1

Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place.2

Have mercy on me3 and respond to4 my prayer!

4:2You men,5 how long will you try to turn my honor into shame?6

How long7 will you love what is worthless8

and search for what is deceptive?9

(Selah)

4:3Realize that10 the Lord shows the godly special favor;11

the Lord responds12 when I cry out to him.

4:4Tremble with fear and do not sin!13

Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways!14

(Selah)

4:5Offer the prescribed sacrifices15

and trust in the Lord!16

4:6Many say, “Who can show us anything good?”

Smile upon us, Lord!17

4:7You make me happier18

than those who have abundant grain and wine.19

4:8I will lie down and sleep peacefully,20

for you, Lord, make me safe and secure.21

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Heb “God of my righteousness.”
  2. 2 Heb “in distress (or “a narrow place”) you make (a place) large for me.” The function of the Hebrew perfect verbal form here is uncertain. The translation above assumes that the psalmist is expressing his certitude and confidence that God will intervene. The psalmist is so confident of God’s positive response to his prayer, he can describe God’s deliverance as if it had already happened. Such confidence is consistent with the mood of the psalm (vv. 3, 8). Another option is to take the perfects as precative, expressing a wish or request (“lead me”). See §30.5.4c, d. However, not all grammarians are convinced that the perfect is used as a precative in biblical Hebrew.
  3. 3 Or “show me favor.”
  4. 4 Heb “hear.”
  5. 5 Heb “sons of man.”
  6. 6 Heb “how long my honor to shame?”
  7. 7 The interrogative construction עַד־מֶה (’ad-meh, “how long?”), is understood by ellipsis in the second line.
  8. 8 Heb “emptiness.”
  9. 9 Heb “a lie.” Some see the metonymic language of v. 2b (“emptiness, lie”) as referring to idols or false gods. However, there is no solid immediate contextual evidence for such an interpretation. It is more likely that the psalmist addresses those who threaten him (see v. 1) and refers in a general way to their sinful lifestyle. (See R. Mosis, 7:121.) The two terms allude to the fact that sinful behavior is ultimately fruitless and self-destructive.
  10. 10 Heb “and know that.”
  11. 11 Heb “that the Lord sets apart a faithful one for himself.” The psalmist states a general principle, though the singular form and the parallel line indicate he has himself in mind as the representative godly person. A חָסִיד (khasid; here translated as “the godly”) is one who does what is right in God’s eyes and remains faithful to God (see Pss 12:1; 18:25; 31:23; 37:28; 86:2; 97:10).
  12. 12 Heb “hears.”
  13. 13 The psalmist warns his enemies that they need to tremble with fear before God and repudiate their sinful ways.
  14. 14 Heb “say in your heart(s) on your bed(s) and wail/lament.” The verb דֹמּוּ (dommu) is understood as a form of דָמָם (“wail, lament”) in sorrow and repentance. Another option is to take the verb from II דָמָם (damam, “be quiet”); cf. , “be silent.”
  15. 15 Or “proper, right.” The phrase also occurs in Deut 33:19 and Ps 51:19.
  16. 16 Trust in the Lord. The psalmist urges his enemies to make peace with God and become his followers.
  17. 17 Heb “lift up upon us the light of your face, Lord.” The verb נסה is apparently an alternate form of נשׂא, “lift up.” See §76.b. The idiom “light of your face” probably refers to a smile (see Eccl 8:1), which in turn suggests favor and blessing (see Num 6:25; Pss 31:16; 44:3; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 89:15; Dan 9:17). Smile upon us. Though many are discouraged, the psalmist asks the Lord to intervene and transform the situation.
  18. 18 Heb “you place joy in my heart.” Another option is to understand the perfect verbal form as indicating certitude, “you will make me happier.”
  19. 19 Heb “from (i.e., more than) the time (when) their grain and their wine are abundant.”
  20. 20 Heb “in peace at the same time I will lie down and sleep.”
  21. 21 Heb “for you, Lord, solitarily, securely make me dwell.” The translation understands לְבָדָד (lévadad) as modifying the verb; the Lord keeps enemies away from the psalmist so that he is safe and secure. Another option is to take לְבָדָד with what precedes and translate, “you alone, Lord, make me secure.”

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have given me relief when I was in distress.

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?

How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;

the Lord hears when I call to him.

Be angry, and do not sin;

ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

Offer right sacrifices,

and put your trust in the Lord.

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?

Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

You have put more joy in my heart

than they have when their grain and wine abound.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Answer me when I call to you,

my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress;

have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

How long will you people turn my glory into shame?

How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?

Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;

the Lord hears when I call to him.

Tremble and do not sin;

when you are on your beds,

search your hearts and be silent.

Offer the sacrifices of the righteous

and trust in the Lord.

Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”

Let the light of your face shine on us.

Fill my heart with joy

when their grain and new wine abound.

In peace I will lie down and sleep,

for you alone, Lord,

make me dwell in safety.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Answer me when I call,

God, who vindicates me.

You freed me from affliction;

be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

How long, exalted ones, will my honor be insulted?

How long will you love what is worthless

and pursue a lie?

Selah

Know that the Lord has set apart

the faithful for himself;

the Lord will hear when I call to him.

Be angry and do not sin;

reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent.

Selah

Offer sacrifices in righteousness

and trust in the Lord.

Many are asking, “Who can show us anything good?”

Let the light of your face shine on us, Lord.

You have put more joy in my heart

than they have when their grain and new wine abound.

I will both lie down and sleep in peace,

for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

Answer me when I call to you,

O God who declares me innocent.

Free me from my troubles.

Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

How long will you people ruin my reputation?

How long will you make groundless accusations?

How long will you continue your lies?

Interlude

You can be sure of this:

The Lord set apart the godly for himself.

The Lord will answer when I call to him.

Don’t sin by letting anger control you.

Think about it overnight and remain silent.

Interlude

Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,

and trust the Lord.

Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”

Let your face smile on us, Lord.

You have given me greater joy

than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.

In peace I will lie down and sleep,

for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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

In trouble deliver me.

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

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

How long will you love vanity?

How long will you seek lies? Selah

But know that Yahweh has set apart for himself the faithful one.

Yahweh hears when I call to him.

Be disturbed but do not sin.

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

Offer correct sacrifices,

and trust in Yahweh.

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

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

You have put gladness in my heart

more than when their grain and their wine abound.

In peace I will lie down and sleep at once,

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

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness:

Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress;

Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame?

How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself:

The Lord will hear when I call unto him.

Stand in awe, and sin not:

Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

And put your trust in the Lord.

There be many that say, Who will shew us any good?

Lord, Lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Thou hast put gladness in my heart,

More than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:

For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

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