Psalm 4
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition
Psalm 4
Confident Plea for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
You gave me room when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
2 How long, you people, shall my honour suffer shame?
How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?Selah
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 When you are disturbed,[a] do not sin;
ponder it on your beds, and be silent.Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There are many who say, ‘O that we might see some good!
Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!’
7 You have put gladness in my heart
more than when their grain and wine abound.
8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.
Footnotes
- Psalm 4:4 Or are angry
Psalm 4
Evangelical Heritage Version
Psalm 4
My Righteous God, Give Me Relief
Heading
For the choir director. With stringed instruments. A psalm by David.
A Prayer to God
1 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
2 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?
3 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
4 You may be upset, but do not sin.
When you are on your beds,
speak to your heart, but remain silent. Interlude
5 Offer righteous sacrifices,
and trust in the Lord.
6 Many are saying, “Who can show us any good?”
Shine the light of your face on us, O Lord.
Closing Prayer
7 You have placed joy in my heart greater than the joy
when grain and new wine are plentiful.
8 In complete peace I will lie down, and I will sleep,
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Footnotes
- 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.
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
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.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

