Bible History
Bible History

Psalm 4 - New English Translation (NET)

You are here: Home New English Translation (NET) Psalm 4

Psalm 4[a]

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of David.

4 When I call out, answer me,
O God who vindicates me.[b]
Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place.[c]
Have mercy on me[d] and respond to[e] my prayer.
2 You men,[f] how long will you try to turn my honor into shame?[g]
How long[h] will you love what is worthless[i]
and search for what is deceptive?[j] (Selah)
3 Realize that[k] the Lord shows the godly special favor;[l]
the Lord responds[m] when I cry out to him.
4 Tremble with fear and do not sin.[n]
Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways.[o] (Selah)
5 Offer the prescribed sacrifices[p]
and trust in the Lord.[q]
6 Many say, “Who can show us anything good?”
Smile upon us, Lord![r]
7 You make me happier[s]
than those who have abundant grain and wine.[t]
8 I will lie down and sleep peacefully,[u]
for you, Lord, make me safe and secure.[v]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 4:1 sn Psalm 4. The psalmist asks God to hear his prayer, expresses his confidence that the Lord will intervene, and urges his enemies to change their ways and place their trust in God. He concludes with another prayer for divine intervention and again affirms his absolute confidence in God’s protection.
  2. Psalm 4:1 tn Heb “God of my righteousness.”
  3. Psalm 4:1 tn Heb “in distress (or “a narrow place”) you make (a place) large for me.” The function of the Hebrew perfect verbal form here is uncertain. The translation above assumes that the psalmist is expressing his certitude and confidence that God will intervene. The psalmist is so confident of God’s positive response to his prayer, he can describe God’s deliverance as if it had already happened. Such confidence is consistent with the mood of the psalm (vv. 3, 8). Another option is to take the perfects as precative, expressing a wish or request (“lead me”). See IBHS 494-95 §30.5.4c, d. However, not all grammarians are convinced that the perfect is used as a precative in biblical Hebrew.
  4. Psalm 4:1 tn Or “show me favor.”
  5. Psalm 4:1 tn Heb “hear.”
  6. Psalm 4:2 tn Heb “sons of man.”
  7. Psalm 4:2 tn Heb “how long my honor to shame?”
  8. Psalm 4:2 tn The interrogative construction עַד־מֶה (ʿad meh, “how long?”), is understood by ellipsis in the second line.
  9. Psalm 4:2 tn Heb “emptiness.”
  10. Psalm 4:2 tn Heb “a lie.” Some see the metonymic language of v. 2b (“emptiness, lie”) as referring to idols or false gods. However, there is no solid immediate contextual evidence for such an interpretation. It is more likely that the psalmist addresses those who threaten him (see v. 1) and refers in a general way to their sinful lifestyle. (See R. Mosis, TDOT 7:121.) The two terms allude to the fact that sinful behavior is ultimately fruitless and self-destructive.
  11. Psalm 4:3 tn Heb “and know that.”
  12. Psalm 4:3 tn Heb “that the Lord sets apart a faithful one for himself.” The psalmist states a general principle, though the singular form and the parallel line indicate he has himself in mind as the representative godly person. A חָסִיד (khasid; here translated as “the godly”) is one who does what is right in God’s eyes and remains faithful to God (see Pss 12:1; 18:25; 31:23; 37:28; 86:2; 97:10).
  13. Psalm 4:3 tn Heb “hears.”
  14. Psalm 4:4 sn The psalmist warns his enemies that they need to tremble with fear before God and repudiate their sinful ways.
  15. Psalm 4:4 tn Heb “say in your heart(s) on your bed(s) and wail/lament.” The verb דֹמּוּ (dommu) is understood as a form of דָמָם (“wail, lament”) in sorrow and repentance. Another option is to take the verb from II דָמָם (damam, “be quiet”); cf. NIV, NRSV “be silent.”
  16. Psalm 4:5 tn Or “proper, right.” The phrase also occurs in Deut 33:19 and Ps 51:19.
  17. Psalm 4:5 sn Trust in the Lord. The psalmist urges his enemies to make peace with God and become his followers.
  18. Psalm 4:6 tn Heb “lift up upon us the light of your face, Lord.” The verb נסה is apparently an alternate form of נשׂא, “lift up.” See GKC 217 §76.b. The idiom “light of your face” probably refers to a smile (see Eccl 8:1), which in turn suggests favor and blessing (see Num 6:25; Pss 31:16; 44:3; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 89:15; Dan 9:17).sn Smile upon us. Though many are discouraged, the psalmist asks the Lord to intervene and transform the situation.
  19. Psalm 4:7 tn Heb “you place joy in my heart.” Another option is to understand the perfect verbal form as indicating certitude, “you will make me happier.”
  20. Psalm 4:7 tn Heb “from (i.e., more than) the time (when) their grain and their wine are abundant.”
  21. Psalm 4:8 tn Heb “in peace at the same time I will lie down and sleep.”
  22. Psalm 4:8 tn Heb “for you, Lord, solitarily, securely make me dwell.” The translation understands לְבָדָד (levadad) as modifying the verb; the Lord keeps enemies away from the psalmist so that he is safe and secure. Another option is to take לְבָדָד with what precedes and translate, “you alone, Lord, make me secure.”

You Might Also Like:

Psalm 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 To the Overseer with Stringed Instruments. -- A Psalm of David. In my calling answer Thou me, O God of my righteousness. In adversity Thou gavest enlargement to me; Favour me, and hear my prayer. 2 Sons of men! till when [is] my glory for shame? Ye love a vain thing, ye seek a lie. Selah. 3 And kn...
Read More

Psalm 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 To the victory in organs, the psalm of David. When I inwardly called, God of my rightwiseness heard me; in tribulation thou hast alarged to me. Have thou mercy on me; and hear thou my prayer. (To victory, on instruments, the song of David. Please answer me when I call thee, O God of my righteousne...
Read More

Psalm 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David.4 Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.2 You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? Will you love vanity and seek after falsehood?...
Read More

Psalm 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 4For the worship leader. A song of David accompanied by strings.1 Answer my prayers, O True God, the righteous, who makes me right. I was hopelessly surrounded, and You rescued me.Once again hear me; hide me in Your favor; bring victory in defeat and hope in hopelessness. 2 How long will you s...
Read More

Psalm 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Prayer for Sleep in ShalomPsalm 41 For the music director, on stringed instruments, a psalm of David.2 Answer me when I call,God of my righteousness!You set me free when I am in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.3 O sons of men, how long will you turn my glory into my shame?How long wil...
Read More

Psalm 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Confident Plea for Deliverance from EnemiesTo the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.4 Answer me when I call, O God of my right! Thou hast given me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. 2 O men, how long shall my honor suffer shame? How long will y...
Read More

Psalm 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Confident Plea for Deliverance from EnemiesTo the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.4 Answer me when I call, O God of my right! Thou hast given me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. 2 O men, how long shall my honor suffer shame? How long will y...
Read More

Psalm 4 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 4Confident Plea for Deliverance from EnemiesTo 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 honor suffer shame? How long will ...
Read More

Psalm 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 4Confident Plea for Deliverance from EnemiesTo 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...
Read More

Psalm 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 4Confident Plea for Deliverance from EnemiesTo 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.(A)2 How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame? How long wil...
Read More

Psalm 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 4For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.1 Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent.Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. 2 How long will you people ruin my reputation? How long will you make groundless ac...
Read More

Psalm 4 - New Life Version (NLV)

Evening Prayer of Trust4 Answer me when I call, O my God Who is right and good! You have made a way for me when I needed help. Be kind to me, and hear my prayer. 2 O sons of men, how long will you turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is of no use, and run after lies? 3 Know that th...
Read More

Psalm 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Safety of the FaithfulTo 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 yo...
Read More

Psalm 4 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 4[a]For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.1 Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God.Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. 2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false...
Read More

Psalm 4 - New International Version (NIV)

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 delusi...
Read More

Psalm 4 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 4For the director of music. A psalm of David to be played on stringed instruments.1 My faithful God, answer me when I call out to you.Give me rest from my trouble. Have mercy on me. Hear my prayer. 2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love what will certainly ...
Read More

Psalm 4 - New Century Version (NCV)

An Evening PrayerFor the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.4 Answer me when I pray to you, my God who does what is right.Make things easier for me when I am in trouble. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. 2 People, how long will you turn my honor into shame? How long wi...
Read More

61 Bible Translations

Popular Articles

Explore the Bible Like Never Before!

Bible History Online

Bible Study Tools

Top Tags