Psalm 4

Common English Bible

Psalm 4

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

4 Answer me when I cry out, my righteous God!
    Set me free from my troubles!
        Have mercy on me!
        Listen to my prayer!

²How long, you people,
    will my reputation be insulted?
How long will you continue
    to love what is worthless
    and go after lies? Selah
³Know this: the Lord takes
    personal care of the faithful.
The Lord will hear me
    when I cry out to him.
⁴So be afraid, and don’t sin!
    Think hard about it in your bed
    and weep over it! Selah
⁵Bring righteous offerings,
    and trust the Lord!

⁶Many people say,
    “We can’t find goodness anywhere.
    The light of your face has left us, Lord!”^[a]
⁷But you have filled my heart with more joy
    than when their wheat and wine are everywhere!
⁸I will lie down and fall asleep in peace
    because you alone, Lord, let me live in safety.

Footnotes

Psalm 4:6 Correction; MT Shine the light of your face on us, Lord!

Psalm 79:1-9

Common English Bible

Psalm 79

A psalm of Asaph.

79 The nations have come into your inheritance, God!
    They’ve defiled your holy temple.
    They’ve made Jerusalem a bunch of ruins.
²They’ve left your servants’ bodies
    as food for the birds;
    they’ve left the flesh of your faithful
    to the wild animals of the earth.
³They’ve poured out the blood of the faithful
    like water all around Jerusalem,
    and there’s no one left to bury them.
⁴We’ve become a joke to our neighbors,
    nothing but objects of ridicule
    and disapproval to those around us.

⁵How long will you rage, Lord? Forever?
    How long will your anger burn like fire?
⁶Pour out your wrath on the nations
        who don’t know you,
    on the kingdoms
        that haven’t called on your name.
⁷They’ve devoured Jacob
    and demolished his pasture.
⁸Don’t remember the iniquities of past generations;
    let your compassion hurry to meet us
    because we’ve been brought so low.
⁹God of our salvation, help us
    for the glory of your name!
Deliver us and cover our sins
    for the sake of your name!