Psalm 4-5

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Psalm 4

A Night Prayer

For the choir director: with stringed instruments.^(A) A Davidic psalm.

¹Answer me when I call,
God, who vindicates me.^[a]^(B)
You freed me from affliction;^(C)
be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

²How long, exalted men, will my honor be insulted?^(D)
How long will you love what is worthless^(E)
and pursue a lie?Selah
³Know that the Lord has set apart
the faithful for Himself;
the Lord will hear when I call to Him.
⁴Be angry^[b] and do not sin;^(F)
on your bed, reflect in your heart and be still.^(G)Selah
⁵Offer sacrifices in righteousness^[c]^(H)
and trust in the Lord.^(I)

⁶Many are saying, “Who can show us anything good?”
Look on us with favor, Lord.^(J)

⁷You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and new wine abound.^(K)
⁸I will both lie down and sleep in peace,^(L)
for You alone, Lord, make me live in safety.^(M)

Psalm 5

The Refuge of the Righteous

For the choir director: with the flutes. A Davidic psalm.

¹Listen to my words, Lord;
consider my sighing.^(N)
²Pay attention to the sound of my cry,^(O)
my King and my God,^(P)
for I pray to You.

³At daybreak,^(Q) Lord, You hear my voice;
at daybreak I plead my case to You^(R) and watch expectantly.

⁴For You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil cannot dwell with You.^(S)
⁵The boastful cannot stand in Your presence;^(T)
You hate all evildoers.^(U)
⁶You destroy those who tell lies;^(V)
the Lord abhors a man of bloodshed and treachery.^(W)

⁷But I enter Your house
by the abundance of Your faithful love;^(X)
I bow down toward Your holy temple
in reverential awe of You.^(Y)
⁸Lord, lead me in Your righteousness^(Z)
because of my adversaries;^[d]
make Your way straight before me.^(AA)

⁹For there is nothing reliable in what they say;^[e]^(AB)
destruction is within them;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongues.^(AC)
¹⁰Punish them, God;
let them fall by their own schemes.^(AD)
Drive them out^(AE) because of their many crimes,
for they rebel against You.^(AF)

¹¹But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;^(AG)
let them shout for joy forever.
May You shelter them,^(AH)
and may those who love Your name boast about You.^(AI)
¹²For You, Lord, bless the righteous one;
You surround him with favor like a shield.^(AJ)

Footnotes

Psalm 4:1 Or God of my righteousness
Psalm 4:4 Or Tremble
Psalm 4:5 Or Offer right sacrifices; lit Sacrifice sacrifices of righteousness
Psalm 5:8 Or of those who lie in wait for me
Psalm 5:9 Lit in his mouth