Psalms 4 · Verse 2

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 4:2, King James Version

Psalms 4:2 in other translations

BSBHow long, O men, will my honor be maligned? How long will you love vanity and seek after lies? Selah
WEBYou sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? Will you love vanity and seek after falsehood? Selah.
ASVO ye sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after falsehood? [Selah
YLTSons of men! till when is my glory for shame? Ye love a vain thing, ye seek a lie. Selah.
DARBYYe sons of men, till when is my glory to be put to shame? How long will ye love vanity, will ye seek after a lie? Selah.
BBEO you sons of men, how long will you go on turning my glory into shame? how long will you give your love to foolish things, going after what is false? (Selah.)
WebsterO ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after falsehood? Selah.

What does Psalms 4:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. sons of men--men of note or prominence (compare 2Ch 21:9). turn my glory--or, "royal dignity." into shame--or, "reproach." vanity--a foolish and hopeless enterprise (Psa 2:1). leasing--a lie.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 O ye sons of men - בני איש beney ish, ye powerful men - ye who are now at the head of affairs, or who are leaders of the multitude. Love vanity - The poor, empty, shallow-brained, pretty-faced Absalom; whose prospects are all vain, and whose promises are all empty! Seek after leasing? - This is a Saxon word, from falsehood, from to lie. Cardmarden has adopted this word in his translation, Rouen, 1566. It is in none of the Bibles previously to that time, nor in any after, as far as my own collection affords me evidence; and appears to have been borrowed by King James's translators from the above. Selah - Mark this! See what the end will be!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 4:1-5

Hear me for thy mercy-sake, is our best plea. He who will not ask such blessings as pardon, and justifying righteousness, and eternal life, must perish for the want of them. Alas! that so many should make so fearful a choice. The psalmist warns against sin. Keep up holy reverence of the glory and majesty of God. You have a great deal to say to your hearts, they may be spoken with, let it not be unsaid. Examine them…

Read the full comment on Psalms 4:1-5 →

Psalms 4:2 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.

בְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiO sons ofH1121
אִ֡ישׁ'ishmanH376
עַד\־'ad-untilH5704
מֶ֬הmehwhen?H4100
כְבוֹדִ֣יkhe.vo.Di[will] honor myH3519
לִ֭כְלִמָּהLikh.li.mah[become] <into> ignominyH3639
תֶּאֱהָב֣וּןte.'e.ha.Vunwill you love? !H157
רִ֑יקRikvanityH7385
תְּבַקְשׁ֖וּte.vak.Shuwill you seek?H1245
כָזָ֣בkha.ZavfalsehoodH3577
סֶֽלָה\׃Se.lahSelahH5542

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 4:2

  • Proverbs 1:22

    How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

  • Hosea 4:7

    As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

  • Psalms 3:3

    But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

  • Psalms 5:6

    Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

  • Psalms 106:20

    Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

  • Jeremiah 2:11

    Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:11

    Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

  • 1 Samuel 12:21

    And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

  • Ephesians 4:25

    Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

  • Psalms 2:1

    Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

  • Isaiah 59:4

    None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

  • Isaiah 45:17

    But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
O.
57:4; 58:1; Ec 8:11; 9:3
how.
72:2; Ex 10:3; Nu 14:11; Pr 1:22
my glory.
3:3; 14:6; 106:20; Isa 20:5; 45:17; Jer 2:11; Ho 4:7; 1Co 1:31
love.
2:1; 1Sa 12:21; Isa 59:4; Jer 2:5; Jon 2:8
leasing.
5:6; 58:3; 63:11; Jer 9:3; Eph 4:25

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 4:3

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

Read all of Psalms 4

Psalms 4:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Hijos de los hombres, ¿hasta cuándo volveréis mi honra en infamia, amaréis la vanidad, y buscaréis la mentira? (Selah.)
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Quand je crie, réponds-moi, Dieu de ma justice! Dans la détresse tu m’as mis au large; use de grâce envers moi, et écoute ma prière.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Ihr Männersöhne, bis wann soll meine Herrlichkeit zur Schande sein? Bis wann werdet ihr Eitles lieben, Lüge suchen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Cum invocarem exaudivit me Deus justitiæ meæ, in tribulatione dilatasti mihi. Miserere mei, et exaudi orationem meam.