Home Psalms

Psalms 4

Prev Next

[1]David prayeth God to hear him: [2]he reproveth his enemies, and exhorteth them. [6]Man's happiness consisteth in the favour of God.

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.

1. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

2. O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

3. But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

4. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

6. There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

7. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

8. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Metrical version

Psalm 4

C.M. Crimond

Give ear unto me when I call,
God of my righteousness:
Have mercy, hear my prayer; thou hast
enlarged me in distress.

O ye the sons of men! how long
will ye love vanities?
How long my glory turn to shame,
and will ye follow lies?

But know, that for himself the LORD
the godly man doth choose:
The LORD, when I on him do call,
to hear will not refuse.

Fear, and sin not; talk with your heart
on bed, and silent be.
Off'rings present of righteousness,
and in the LORD trust ye.

O who will show us any good?
is that which many say:
But of thy countenance the light,
LORD, lift on us alway.

Upon my heart, bestowed by thee,
more gladness I have found
Than they, ev'n then, when corn and wine
did most with them abound.

I will both lay me down in peace,
and quiet sleep will take;
Because thou only me to dwell
in safety, LORD, dost make.
This psalm was, perhaps, composed on the same occasion as the former, when David fled from Absalom his son. Here, (1.) David encouraged by former experience, casts his burden on the Lord, and supplicates a merciful deliverance, ver. 1. (2.) Addressing himself to men, particularly to his persecutors, he reproves their contempt of God and religion, their delight in, and practice of vanity, fraud, and falsehood. He represents the happiness of the saints in having God their protector, and ready to hear their requests. He recommends a holy filial awe of God, and careful abstinence from sin; together with a devoting of themselves, and their conduct and substance, to the Lord, ver. 2-5. (3.) To encourage them to the study of practical religion, he remarks, what superlative satisfaction and rest himself had found in familiar fellowship with God, and in a believing dependence on him, ver. 6-8.


While I sing, let me have faith in God, as my own God in Christ. Let me abhor that levity of mind, that deceitfulness, that earthly mindedness proper to the ungodly, and every remain thereof. Let my soul pant for Jehovah, and prefer him to everything else. Let me, by faith, lay meyself down in his arms, his bosom, as all my salvation and comfort.