Psalm 4[a]

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

Answer me(A) when I call to you,
    my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;(B)
    have mercy(C) on me and hear my prayer.(D)

How long will you people turn my glory(E) into shame?(F)
    How long will you love delusions and seek false gods[b]?[c](G)
Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant(H) for himself;
    the Lord hears(I) when I call to him.

Tremble and[d] do not sin;(J)
    when you are on your beds,(K)
    search your hearts and be silent.
Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
    and trust in the Lord.(L)

Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
    Let the light of your face shine on us.(M)
Fill my heart(N) with joy(O)
    when their grain and new wine(P) abound.

In peace(Q) I will lie down and sleep,(R)
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.(S)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-8 is numbered 4:2-9.
  2. Psalm 4:2 Or seek lies
  3. Psalm 4:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 4.
  4. Psalm 4:4 Or In your anger (see Septuagint)

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.

At that time I, Daniel, mourned(A) for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;(B) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank(C) of the great river, the Tigris,(D) I looked up(E) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,(F) with a belt of fine gold(G) from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz,(H) his face like lightning,(I) his eyes like flaming torches,(J) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,(K) and his voice(L) like the sound of a multitude.

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,(M) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone,(N) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,(O) my face turned deathly pale(P) and I was helpless.(Q) Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.(R)

10 A hand touched me(S) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.(T) 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,(U) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,(V) for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid,(W) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble(X) yourself before your God, your words(Y) were heard, and I have come in response to them.(Z) 13 But the prince(AA) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,(AB) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain(AC) to you what will happen to your people in the future,(AD) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.(AE)

15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.(AF) 16 Then one who looked like a man[a] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.(AG) I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish(AH) because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. 17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”(AI)

18 Again the one who looked like a man touched(AJ) me and gave me strength.(AK) 19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”(AL) he said. “Peace!(AM) Be strong now; be strong.”(AN)

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”(AO)

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 10:16 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; one manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint Then something that looked like a human hand

In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.

17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.

18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,

19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

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26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.(A) 27 As for you, the anointing(B) you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things(C) and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.(D)

God’s Children and Sin

28 And now, dear children,(E) continue in him, so that when he appears(F) we may be confident(G) and unashamed before him at his coming.(H)

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26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

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