לַמְנַצֵּחַ בִּנְגִינוֹת מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד׃   4:1

Psal. 4:1   For the musician, with stringed instruments; a psalm of David's.

Now this psalm explicitly states it is to be accompanied by music.  It is opening verses such as this one that have

suggested to scholars that all the psalms are intended to be musical.

בְּקָרְאִי עֲנֵנִי אֱלֹהֵי צִדְקִי בַּצָּר הִרְחַבְתָּ לִּי חָנֵּנִי וּשְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי׃   4:2

Psal. 4:2   On my call, answer me, O God of my righteousness!

                            In distress, You set me free.

                   Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

The phrase בַּצָּר הִרְחַבְתָּ לִּי (the 5th, 6th, and 7th Hebrew words) that I translate as “In distress, You set me free.” can also be translated as “In narrowness, You broadened me.”  This may be the preferred translation, because

it seems to clarify a strange phrase in Psal. 31:9.

בְּנֵי אִישׁ עַד־מֶה כְבוֹדִי לִכְלִמָּה תֶּאֱהָבוּן רִיק תְּבַקְשׁוּ כָזָב סֶלָה׃   4:3

Psal. 4:3   “O sons of men, you who must love vanity, desire lies,

                             until when will My glory be for shame?”            Selah

וּדְעוּ כִּי־הִפְלָה יְהוָה חָסִיד לוֹ יְהוָה יִשְׁמַע בְּקָרְאִי אֵלָיו׃   4:4

Psal. 4:4   But you should know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself.

                             The Lord will hear my call to Him.

רִגְזוּ וְאַל־תֶּחֱטָאוּ אִמְרוּ בִלְבַבְכֶם עַל־מִשְׁכַּבְכֶם וְדֹמּוּ סֶלָה׃   4:5

Psal. 4:5   Be afraid and you will not sin;

                             think to yourselves on your bed and be quiet.            Selah.

זִבְחוּ זִבְחֵי־צֶדֶק וּבִטְחוּ אֶל־יְהוָה׃   4:6

Psal. 4:6   Offer sacrifices of righteousness

                             and trust yourselves to the Lord.

רַבִּים אֹמְרִים מִי־יַרְאֵנוּ טֹוב נְסָה־עָלֵינוּ אֹור פָּנֶיךָ יְהוָה׃   4:7

Psal. 4:7   Many are they who say,

                             “O that He could see us as good!

                    Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!”

נָתַתָּה שִׂמְחָה בְלִבִּי מֵעֵת דְּגָנָם וְתִירֹושָׁם רָבּוּ׃   4:8

Psal. 4:8   You put more gladness in my heart

                             than when their corn and their wine increase.

בְּשָׁלוֹם יַחְדָּו אֶשְׁכְּבָה וְאִישָׁן כִּי־אַתָּה יְהוָה לְבָדָד לָבֶטַח תּוֹשִׁיבֵנִי׃   4:9

Psal. 4:9   In peace will I both lie down and sleep,

                             for You, O Lord, will allow me to dwell safely alone.

 

[Return to Psalms Chapters]   [Prev.:  Psal. 3]   [Next:  Psal. 5]