The Bible — World English Bible

Psalm 4

In brief

Psalm 4 is a prayer of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments. Slandered, he begins by crying out to God, who is his righteousness. He then speaks to those who turn his glory into shame and love lies: let them tremble, not sin, and trust in Yahweh. When many ask who will show them any good, David asks for the light of God's face. The psalm ends with a joy greater than harvest and a down-to-earth peace: he lies down and sleeps, because God alone makes him live in safety.

The title attributes Psalm 4 to David and says it was sung with stringed instruments, under the direction of the chief musician. It is a prayer of supplication, a cry for help, that becomes a psalm of trust as the verses unfold. The title does not give the circumstances. Because it follows Psalm 3, written when David fled from Absalom, some place it in the same period, but the text does not say so. We see a man whose honor is under attack, surrounded by discouraged people, who chooses to lean on God. The word Selah, which appears twice, is a Hebrew term whose exact meaning is still debated: most likely a musical marker. Because it ends with sleep, it is often called the evening prayer, while Psalm 3 is more of a morning prayer. Many believers pray it before going to bed.

The chapter in 3 parts

  1. v. 1-3David cries to God, his righteousness, in the midst of distress
  2. v. 4-5Speaking to those who wound without sinning back
  3. v. 6-8A joy and a peace that God alone gives

1Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

2You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? Will you love vanity and seek after falsehood?

3But know that Yahweh has set apart for himself him who is godly: Yahweh will hear when I call to him.

4Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still.

5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in Yahweh.

6Many say, “Who will show us any good?” Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us.

7You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and their new wine are increased.

8In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety.

Understanding Psalm 4 verse by verse

v. 1-3Crying out to the God of righteousness when you are slandered

David begins by crying out. He calls God “God of my righteousness”: the one who knows the truth and defends the innocent who are falsely accused. His prayer is direct: answer me, give me relief, have mercy on me. The Hebrew can also be read as a statement: in distress, you gave me room. Distress is like a tight place where you can hardly breathe, and God gives back space. Then David speaks to those who tarnish his reputation: “You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor?” They love vanity, what is empty, and chase after lies. David does not answer with insults. He reminds them that God has set apart the one who is faithful to him, and that God hears him when he cries out. If rumors or unfair judgments reach you, begin as he did: talk to God first, because he knows what is true.

v. 4-5Trembling without sinning, being still and trusting

“Stand in awe, and don’t sin.” The Hebrew verb literally means to tremble: an inner agitation, whether of fear, anger or awe. The old Greek translation understood it as: be angry, but do not sin, and the apostle Paul takes up those words in Ephesians 4:26. The psalm does not ask you to feel nothing; it asks you not to let the emotion decide for you. Then comes advice for the evening: “Search your own heart on your bed, and be still.” The Hebrew says, literally, speak in your hearts. On your bed, when the day keeps replaying, tell God everything honestly, then stop brooding and let the silence come. Verse 5 adds two actions: offering sacrifices of righteousness, that is, sincere worship offered with an upright heart, and putting your trust in Yahweh. For Christians, the perfect sacrifice was offered once for all by Jesus; what remains is to offer him our lives and our trust.

v. 6-7The light of his face, a joy stronger than abundance

Many say, “Who will show us any good?” The question sounds like the ones we ask today: fear of the future, discouragement, bad news on a loop. David does not look down on it. He turns it into a prayer: “Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us.” He echoes the blessing the priests spoke over Israel in Numbers 6: may Yahweh make his face shine on you. God's face turned toward us means his favor and his kind presence. David can then say that God has put more gladness in his heart than others have when their grain and new wine abound. The grain and the new wine stand for the harvest, for material security. The joy God gives does not depend on a full bank account. It does not remove needs, but it holds even when the barns are empty.

v. 8Falling asleep in peace, because God alone keeps watch

The psalm ends in bed. “In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep”: David does not say that his enemies have disappeared or that his problems are solved. He says why he can sleep: “for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety.” Sleeping means accepting that you control nothing for a few hours. Believers can let go because someone else keeps watch: Psalm 121 will say that the one who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. This verse is not a formula against insomnia, which sometimes has medical causes that need treating, and it does not promise that no misfortune will ever happen. It is an act of trust that you can repeat every evening. Jesus slept in the boat in the middle of the storm: his peace did not come from the calm around him, but from his trust in his Father.

How to pray Psalm 4

When to pray this psalm

  • In the evening, when the worries of the day spin around in your head and keep you from sleeping.
  • When you wake up in the middle of the night with an anxiety you cannot name.
  • When people have spoken ill of you or judged you unfairly, and anger is keeping you awake.
  • Before going to bed after an argument, so that bitterness does not take root.
  • Alone at home in the evening, when every noise worries you and you do not feel safe.
  • When money is short and you compare yourself with those who seem to lack nothing.

A prayer inspired by Psalm 4

God of my righteousness, I cry out to you tonight. You know the distress that grips my heart and the words that wounded me today. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. I hide nothing from you: anger and worry are stirring inside me, and I want to defend myself alone, to brood, to answer back. Keep me from sinning. On my bed, I tell you everything that is on my heart, and then I choose to be silent before you. I place in your hands those who wrong me and everything I cannot settle tonight. All around me, many are asking who will show them any good. I too sometimes look for security in what I own or what I control. Forgive me. Let the light of your face shine on me, and give me the joy that abundance cannot give. Lord Jesus, you who slept in the boat in the middle of the storm, teach me your trust. I do not know what tomorrow will bring, but I know that you are watching over me. So I lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety. Amen.

Key verses

Verse 1
Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

David cries out and asks God to answer. The God of my righteousness is the one who does justice and takes up your defense when you are slandered.

Verse 4
Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still.

Be angry, and do not sin: you can feel anger without letting it make you sin. The text invites you to speak in your heart on your bed, and then to be still.

Verse 6-7
Many say, “Who will show us any good?” Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and their new wine are increased.

People look for happiness in abundance. David asks for the light of God's face and receives a deeper joy than that of the harvest.

Verse 8
In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety.

A concrete peace: he can sleep, not because the dangers have vanished, but because God alone guarantees his safety.

Bible verses to meditate on

Test your knowledge

All Bible quizzes →

Pray about this

What the sermons say

Psalm 4: In Every Circumstance, God Alone Is Worthy of TrustSilvain Dewaele presents the psalm as the evening prayer of a king fleeing from Absalom, and links it to Psalm 3. In every circumstance, God alone can be trusted, and he alone gives peace.Read the summary →When People Talk Behind Your Back: Psalm 4's RemedyPatrice Martorano follows the three movements of the prayer of a slandered David: cry out to God, speak to your opponents without sinning, then anchor your trust in him.Read the summary →20 Bible Verses Against Anxiety and StressVerse 8 is cited among the verses against anxiety: it is not the absence of danger that reassures, but the presence of a God who watches over us, and trust becomes the condition for peaceful sleep.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Psalm 4

What does Psalm 4 mean?

It is a prayer of David in distress, probably at the time of slander or Absalom's revolt. He cries to God, addresses his adversaries, then declares his trust: God alone gives him peace and safety. It has become an evening prayer, because it ends with sleeping in peace.

How do you pray Psalm 4 before going to sleep?

Read the psalm slowly in the evening. Tell God what hurt you today, as David does in verse 1. Lay your anger down before him without sinning, as verse 4 says. Then read verse 8 as an act of trust: I will both lay me down and sleep in peace. Thank God for watching over you during the night.

What does be angry, and do not sin mean in verse 4?

The verse recognizes that anger or strong emotion can rise up. It asks us not to let it lead to sin: speak in your heart on your bed, then be silent. Paul takes up this idea when he says not to let the sun go down on your anger. It is advice about self-control, not a ban on feeling.

Articles quoting Psalm 4

← All chapters

World English Bible translation — public domain.