The Safety of the Faithful

To the [a]Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

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.

How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood? Selah
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.

(B)Be[d] angry, and do not sin.
(C)Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
Offer (D)the sacrifices of righteousness,
And (E)put your trust in the Lord.

There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
(F)Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
You have put (G)gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
(H)I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
(I)For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 4:1 Choir Director
  2. Psalm 4:1 Be gracious to me
  3. Psalm 4:3 Many Heb. mss., LXX, Tg., Vg. made wonderful
  4. Psalm 4:4 Lit. Tremble or Be agitated

Answer Me When I Call

To the (A)choirmaster: with (B)stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Answer me when I call, O God of my (C)righteousness!
    You have (D)given me relief when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

O men,[a] how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
    How long will you love vain words and seek after (E)lies? Selah
But know that the Lord has (F)set apart (G)the godly for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.

(H)Be angry,[b] and do not sin;
    (I)ponder in your own hearts (J)on your beds, and be silent. Selah
Offer (K)right sacrifices,
    and put your (L)trust in the Lord.

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
    (M)Lift up (N)the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
You have put (O)more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

In peace I will both (P)lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me (Q)dwell in safety.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 4:2 Or O men of rank
  2. Psalm 4:4 Or Be agitated

Evening Prayer of Trust in God.

[a]For the music director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

(A)Answer me when (B)I call, God [b]of my righteousness!
You have [c](C)relieved me in my distress;
Be (D)gracious to me and (E)hear my prayer.

You sons of man, how long will (F)my [d]honor be treated as (G)an insult?
How long will you love (H)what is worthless and strive for a (I)lie? Selah
But know that the Lord has [e](J)set apart the (K)godly person for Himself;
The Lord (L)hears when I call to Him.

[f](M)Tremble, [g](N)and do not sin;
[h](O)Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah
Offer [i]the (P)sacrifices of righteousness,
And (Q)trust in the Lord.

Many are saying, “(R)Who will show us anything good?”
(S)Lift up the light of Your face upon us, Lord!
You have put (T)joy in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine are abundant.
In peace I will [j]both (U)lie down and sleep,
For You alone, Lord, have me (V)dwell in safety.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 4 Title I.e., Belonging to the choir director’s anthology
  2. Psalm 4:1 I.e., who maintains my right
  3. Psalm 4:1 Lit made room for
  4. Psalm 4:2 Or glory
  5. Psalm 4:3 Another reading is dealt wonderfully with
  6. Psalm 4:4 I.e., with anger or fear
  7. Psalm 4:4 Or but
  8. Psalm 4:4 Lit Speak
  9. Psalm 4:5 Or righteous sacrifices
  10. Psalm 4:8 Or at the same time