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Psalm 4

My Righteous God, Give Me Relief

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For the choir director. With stringed instruments. A psalm by David.

A Prayer to God

My righteous God, answer me when I call.
When I was under pressure, you gave me relief.
Be merciful to me and hear my prayer.

A Rebuke to Enemies

You people, how long will you turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love empty delusions? Interlude
How long will you pursue lies?
Know this: The Lord has set apart
    his favored one[a] for himself.
The Lord will hear when I call to him.

Advice to Friends

You may be upset, but do not sin.
When you are on your beds,
    speak to your heart, but remain silent. Interlude
Offer righteous sacrifices,
and trust in the Lord.
Many are saying, “Who can show us any good?”
Shine the light of your face on us, O Lord.

Closing Prayer

You have placed joy in my heart greater than the joy
    when grain and new wine are plentiful.
In complete peace I will lie down, and I will sleep,
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 4:3 The Hebrew word hasid refers to someone who receives and/or gives mercy. It is the most common title for a believer in the Psalms. Many translations use generic terms like devout, godly, or faithful. This translation uses favored when hasid refers primarily to a recipient of mercy and merciful when it refers primarily to a dispenser of mercy.

This is a song that David wrote.

Tell the music leader to use stringed instruments.

An evening song

God, please answer me when I call aloud for help.
You are the one who shows that I am right.
    Help me in my trouble.
    Show me that you are kind.
    Listen to me when I pray.
Tell me this, you people:
    How long will you refuse to respect me?
    How long will you love stupid ideas?
    How long will you agree with lies?
Selah.
The Lord is very kind to those who serve him.
    He has chosen them to belong to himself.
    So he listens when I pray to him.
Shake with fear and stop doing wrong things!
    Lie on your bed and think quietly about your life.
Selah.
Offer the right sacrifices to the Lord.
    Continue to trust in him.
Many people say, ‘Will anyone do a good thing for us?’
    Lord, let your face smile on us.
You have made me very happy.
    I am happier than anyone who has lots of food and wine.
I will lie down and I will sleep in peace.
You, Lord, are the one who takes care of me,
    and you keep me safe.

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.