Psalms 4:1

Context

Psalm 4¹

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of David.

4:1 When I call out, answer me,

O God who vindicates me!²

Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place.³

Have mercy on me⁴ and respond to⁵ my prayer!

Psalms 6:1

Context

Psalm 6⁶

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style;⁷ a psalm of David.

6:1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger!

Do not discipline me in your raging fury!⁸

Psalms 76:1

Context

Psalm 76⁹

For the music director; to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of Asaph, a song.

76:1 God has revealed himself in Judah;¹⁰

in Israel his reputation¹¹ is great.

[4:1] ¹sn Psalm 4. The psalmist asks God to hear his prayer, expresses his confidence that the Lord will intervene, and urges his enemies to change their ways and place their trust in God. He concludes with another prayer for divine intervention and again affirms his absolute confidence in God’s protection.

[4:1] ²tn Heb “God of my righteousness.”

[4:1] ³tn Heb “in distress (or “a narrow place”) you make (a place) large for me.” The function of the Hebrew perfect verbal form here is uncertain. The translation above assumes that the psalmist is expressing his certitude and confidence that God will intervene. The psalmist is so confident of God’s positive response to his prayer, he can describe God’s deliverance as if it had already happened. Such confidence is consistent with the mood of the psalm (vv. 3, 8). Another option is to take the perfects as precative, expressing a wish or request (“lead me”). See IBHS 494-95 §30.5.4c, d. However, not all grammarians are convinced that the perfect is used as a precative in biblical Hebrew.

[4:1] ⁴tn Or “show me favor.”

[4:1] ⁵tn Heb “hear.”

[6:1] ⁶sn Psalm 6. The psalmist begs the Lord to withdraw his anger and spare his life. Having received a positive response to his prayer, the psalmist then confronts his enemies and describes how they retreat.

[6:1] ⁷tn The meaning of the Hebrew term שְׁמִינִית (shÿminit, “sheminith”) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. See 1 Chr 15:21.

[6:1] ⁸sn The implication is that the psalmist has sinned, causing God to discipline him by bringing a life-threatening illness upon him (see vv. 2-7).

[76:1] ⁹sn Psalm 76. The psalmist depicts God as a mighty warrior who destroys Israel’s enemies.

[76:1] ¹⁰tn Or “God is known in Judah.”

[76:1] ¹¹tn Heb “name,” which here stands metonymically for God’s reputation.