Psalm 4–6

Psalm 4^a

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

¹Answer me^p when I call to you,

my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress;^q

have mercy^r on me and hear my prayer.^s

²How long will you people turn my glory^t into shame?^u

How long will you love delusions and seek false gods^b?^cv

³Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant^w for himself;

the Lord hears^x when I call to him.

⁴Tremble and^d do not sin;^y

when you are on your beds,^z

search your hearts and be silent.

⁵Offer the sacrifices of the righteous

and trust in the Lord.^a

⁶Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”

Let the light of your face shine on us.^b

⁷Fill my heart^c with joy^d

when their grain and new wine^e abound.

⁸In peace^f I will lie down and sleep,^g

for you alone, Lord,

make me dwell in safety.^h

Psalm 5^a

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

¹Listenⁱ to my words, Lord,

consider my lament.^j

²Hear my cry for help,^k

my King and my God,^l

for to you I pray.

³In the morning,^m Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait expectantly.ⁿ

⁴For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;

with you, evil people^o are not welcome.

⁵The arrogant^p cannot stand^q

in your presence.

You hate^r all who do wrong;

⁶you destroy those who tell lies.^s

The bloodthirsty and deceitful

you, Lord, detest.

⁷But I, by your great love,

can come into your house;

in reverence^t I bow down^u

toward your holy temple.^v

⁸Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness^w

because of my enemies—

make your way straight^x before me.

⁹Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;

their heart is filled with malice.

Their throat is an open grave;^y

with their tongues they tell lies.^z

¹⁰Declare them guilty, O God!

Let their intrigues be their downfall.

Banish them for their many sins,^a

for they have rebelled^b against you.

¹¹But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.^c

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name^d may rejoice in you.^e

¹²Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;^f

you surround them^g with your favor as with a shield.^h

Psalm 6^a

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.^b A psalm of David.

¹Lord, do not rebuke me in your angerⁱ

or discipline me in your wrath.

²Have mercy on me,^j Lord, for I am faint;^k

heal me,^l Lord, for my bones are in agony.^m

³My soul is in deep anguish.ⁿ

How long,^o Lord, how long?

⁴Turn,^p Lord, and deliver me;

save me because of your unfailing love.^q

⁵Among the dead no one proclaims your name.

Who praises you from the grave?^r

⁶I am worn out^s from my groaning.^t

All night long I flood my bed with weeping^u

and drench my couch with tears.^v

⁷My eyes grow weak^w with sorrow;

they fail because of all my foes.

⁸Away from me,^x all you who do evil,^y

for the Lord has heard my weeping.

⁹The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;^z

the Lord accepts my prayer.

¹⁰All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;^a

they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.^b