Psalm 4

A Night Prayer

For the choir director: with stringed instruments.(A) A psalm of David.

Answer me when I call,
God, who vindicates me.[a](B)
You freed me from affliction;(C)
be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

How long, exalted ones,[b] will my honor be insulted?(D)
How long will you love what is worthless(E)
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[c] and do not sin;(F)
reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent.(G) Selah
Offer sacrifices in righteousness[d](H)
and trust in the Lord.(I)

Many are asking, “Who can show us anything good?”
Let the light of your face shine on us, Lord.(J)

You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and new wine abound.(K)
I will both lie down and sleep in peace,(L)
for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety.(M)

Footnotes

  1. 4:1 Or God of my righteousness
  2. 4:2 Lit long, sons of a man
  3. 4:4 Or Tremble
  4. 4:5 Or Offer right sacrifices

Safety in Yahweh

For the music director; with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.[a]

When I call, answer me, O God of my righteousness.[b]
In trouble deliver me.[c]
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
O 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
But know that Yahweh has set apart[f] for himself the faithful one.[g]
Yahweh hears when I call to him.
Be disturbed but do not sin.
Commune in your heart[h] on your bed and be silent. Selah
Offer correct sacrifices,[i]
and trust in[j] Yahweh.
Many are saying, “Who will show us something good?”
Lift up over[k] us the light of your face, O Yahweh.
You have put gladness in my heart
more than when[l] their grain and their wine abound.
In peace I will lie down and sleep at once,[m]
for you alone, O Yahweh, make me dwell safely.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 4:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  2. Psalm 4:1 Or “vindication”
  3. Psalm 4:1 Literally “make wide for me”
  4. Psalm 4:2 Or “glory”
  5. Psalm 4:2 Or “falsehood”
  6. Psalm 4:3 Or “treated specially”
  7. Psalm 4:3 Or “pious, godly one”
  8. Psalm 4:4 That is, “think it over”
  9. Psalm 4:5 Or “right sacrifices”
  10. Psalm 4:5 Literally “trust to”
  11. Psalm 4:6 Or “upon”
  12. Psalm 4:7 Literally “the time of”
  13. Psalm 4:8 Literally “together”