Psalm 4
New International Version
Psalm 4[a]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.
1 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)
2 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)
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant(H) for himself;
the Lord hears(I) when I call to him.
4 Tremble and[d] do not sin;(J)
when you are on your beds,(K)
search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the Lord.(L)
Psalm 4
Lexham English Bible
Safety in Yahweh
For the music director; with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.[a]
4 When I call, answer me, O God of my righteousness.[b]
In trouble deliver me.[c]
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
2 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
3 But know that Yahweh has set apart[f] for himself the faithful one.[g]
Yahweh hears when I call to him.
4 Be disturbed but do not sin.
Commune in your heart[h] on your bed and be silent. Selah
5 Offer correct sacrifices,[i]
and trust in[j] Yahweh.
6 Many are saying, “Who will show us something good?”
Lift up over[k] us the light of your face, O Yahweh.
7 You have put gladness in my heart
more than when[l] their grain and their wine abound.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep at once,[m]
for you alone, O Yahweh, make me dwell safely.
Footnotes
- Psalm 4:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
- Psalm 4:1 Or “vindication”
- Psalm 4:1 Literally “make wide for me”
- Psalm 4:2 Or “glory”
- Psalm 4:2 Or “falsehood”
- Psalm 4:3 Or “treated specially”
- Psalm 4:3 Or “pious, godly one”
- Psalm 4:4 That is, “think it over”
- Psalm 4:5 Or “right sacrifices”
- Psalm 4:5 Literally “trust to”
- Psalm 4:6 Or “upon”
- Psalm 4:7 Literally “the time of”
- Psalm 4:8 Literally “together”
Psalm 4
New King James Version
The Safety of the Faithful
To the [a]Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
4 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
[b]Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
2 How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood? Selah
3 But know that (A)the Lord has [c]set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The Lord will hear when I call to Him.
4 (B)Be[d] angry, and do not sin.
(C)Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
5 Offer (D)the sacrifices of righteousness,
And (E)put your trust in the Lord.
6 There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
(F)Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
7 You have put (G)gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
8 (H)I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
(I)For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4
GOD’S WORD Translation
For the choir director; with stringed instruments; a psalm by David.
4 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness.
You have freed me from my troubles.
Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!
2 You important people,
how long are you going to insult my honor?
How long are you going to love what is empty
and seek what is a lie? Selah
3 Know that the Lord singles out godly people for himself.
The Lord hears me when I call to him.
4 Tremble and do not sin.
Think about this on your bed and remain quiet. Selah
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness
by trusting the Lord.
6 Many are saying, “Who can show us anything good?”
Let the light of your presence shine on us, O Lord.
7 You put more joy in my heart
than when their grain and new wine increase.
8 I fall asleep in peace the moment I lie down
because you alone, O Lord, enable me to live securely.
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