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Psalm 4

The TorahRooted Bible (TRB), translated directly from the Hebrew and Greek.

An evening prayer of trust

1 Answer me when I call, O Elohim of my righteousness! In distress You have set me in a broad place; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

2 O sons of men, how long will my glory be turned to shame? How long will you love what is empty and seek after lies? Selah. 3 But know that Yahweh has set apart the godly one for Himself; Yahweh hears when I call to Him. 4 Tremble, and do not sin; speak in your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in Yahweh.

6 Many are saying, "Who will show us good?" Lift up the light of Your face upon us, Yahweh. 7 You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and their new wine abound. 8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, Yahweh, make me dwell in safety.

Notes

  • 4:1 Title: "For the choir director" is lamnatseach, from natsach, "to lead, oversee"; the same verb describes the Levites who led the music with lyres in 1 Chronicles 15:21, so it probably assigns the psalm to the leader of the temple music (the ancient Greek translation took it differently, "for the end"). "With stringed instruments" is binginot, from nagan, to play a stringed instrument, as David played the lyre for Saul (1 Samuel 16:23). Psalm 4 is an evening prayer (verse 8), a companion to the morning of Psalm 3 (3:5).
  • 4:4 "Tremble" is rigzu, to quake or be stirred, whether with fear or with anger. The ancient Greek translation rendered it "Be angry, and do not sin," the wording Paul uses in Ephesians 4:26: the stirred heart is not to turn to sin but to be quieted before Yahweh, alone on one's bed.
  • 4:8 "Alone" (levadad) may go with Yahweh, "You alone, Yahweh," or with the one who sleeps, "You make me dwell apart, in safety," as Moses' blessing pictures Israel dwelling "in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone" (Deuteronomy 33:28). Either way the psalm ends where Psalm 3 found rest: "I lay down and slept" (3:5).

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