Psalms 4:1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. 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.
Psalms 4:1 in other translations
| BSB | For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer. |
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| WEB | For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David. Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. |
| ASV | For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness; Thou hast set me at large when I was in distress: Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. |
| YLT | 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. |
| DARBY | To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. When I call, answer me, OGod of my righteousness: in pressure thou hast enlarged me; be gracious unto me, and hear my prayer. |
| BBE | Give answer to my cry, O God of my righteousness; make me free from my troubles; have mercy on me, and give ear to my prayer. |
| Webster | To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. 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. |
What does Psalms 4:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Psa 4:1-8. On Neginoth, that is, stringed instruments, as the kind of musical accompaniment. On other parts of title, see Introduction., The historical occasion was probably the same as that of the foregoing [see on Psa 3:1]. The writer, praying for further relief, admonishes his enemies of the vanity of attacking God's servant, exhorts them to repentance, and avows his confidence and peace in God's favor.
1. Hear--as in Psa 3:4. God of my righteousness--or, "my righteous God, as my holy hill" (Psa 2:6), who will act towards me on righteous principles. thou hast enlarged--expresses relief afforded in opposition to "distress," which is expressed by a word denoting straits or pressure. Past favor is a ground of hope for the future.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
David prays to be heard, Psa 4:1; expostulates with the ungodly, Psa 4:2; exhorts them to turn to God, and make their peace with him, Psa 4:3-5; shows the vain pursuits of men in search of happiness, which he asserts exists only in the approbation of God, Psa 4:6, Psa 4:7; commends himself to the Lord, and then quietly takes his repose, Psa 4:8. This Psalm seems to have been composed on the same occasion with the preceding, viz., Absalom's rebellion. It appears to have been an evening hymn, sung by David and his company previously to their going to rest. It is inscribed to the chief Musician upon Neginoth, למנצח בנגינות lamnatstseach binginoth. Probably the first word comes from נצח natsach, to be over, or preside; and may refer to the precentor in the choir. Some suppose that it refers to the Lord Jesus, who is the Supreme Governor, or victorious Person; the Giver of victory. Neginoth seems to come from נגן nagan, to strike; and probably may signify some such instruments as the cymbal, drum, etc., and stringed instruments in general. But there is no certainty in these things. What they mean, or what they were, is known to no man. Verse 1 Hear me when I call - No man has a right to expect God to hear him if he do not call. Indeed, how shall he be heard if he speak not? There are multitudes who expect the blessings of God as confidently as if they had prayed for them most fervently; and yet such people pray not at all! God of my righteousness - Whatever pardon, peace, holiness, or truth I possess, has come entirely from thyself. Thou art the God of my salvation, as thou art the God of my life. Thou hast enlarged me - I was in prison; and thou hast brought me forth abroad. Have mercy on me - continue to act in the same way. I shall always need thy help; I shall never deserve to have it; let me have it in the way of mere mercy, as thou hast hitherto done.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 4:1-5
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Psalms 4:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Psalms 4:1
- 2 Corinthians 1:10
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
- Exodus 34:6-7
And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
- Psalms 40:1-3
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
- Psalms 18:18-19
They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
- Psalms 119:132
Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
- 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
- Psalms 25:16
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
- Psalms 17:6
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
- Jeremiah 23:6
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
- Habakkuk 3:19
The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
- Psalms 86:3-5
Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
- Isaiah 45:24
Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2 He reproves and exhorts his enemies.
6 Man's happiness is in God's favour.
(Title.) chief Musician. or, overseer.
22:1; 42:1; 45:1; *titles
1Ch 25:1-6
Neginoth.
6:1; 67:1; 76:1; *titles
Hab 3:19; *marg:
O.
11:7; 24:5; 41:12; Isa 45:24; Jer 23:6; 1Co 1:30; 2Co 5:20,21
thou.
18:18,19; 31:8; 40:1-3; 116:6,16; 1Sa 17:37; 19:11,12; 23:26-28
Job 36:16; 2Co 1:8,10
have mercy upon me. or, be gracious unto me.
56:1; 57:1; 86:3-5; 119:75-77,132; 143:2; Ex 34:6,7
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Psalms 4:1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. 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.
- Psalms 4:2
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.
Psalms 4:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Al Músico principal: sobre Neginoth: Salmo de David. RESPÓNDEME cuando clamo, oh Dios de mi justicia: estando en angustia, tú me hiciste ensanchar: ten misericordia de mí, y oye mi oración. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Au chef de musique. Sur Neguinoth. Psaume de David. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wenn ich rufe, antworte mir, Gott meiner Gerechtigkeit! In Bedrängnis hast du mir Raum gemacht; sei mir gnädig und höre mein Gebet! |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | In finem, in carminibus. Psalmus David. |