Psalms 4:6-7

Context

4:6 Many say, “Who can show us anything good?”

Smile upon us, Lord!¹

4:7 You make me happier²

than those who have abundant grain and wine.³

[4:6] ¹tn Heb “lift up upon us the light of your face, Lord.” The verb נסה is apparently an alternate form of נשׂא, “lift up.” See GKC 217 §76.b. The idiom “light of your face” probably refers to a smile (see Eccl 8:1), which in turn suggests favor and blessing (see Num 6:25; Pss 31:16; 44:3; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 89:15; Dan 9:17).

[4:7] ²tn Heb “you place joy in my heart.” Another option is to understand the perfect verbal form as indicating certitude, “you will make me happier.”

[4:7] ³tn Heb “from (i.e., more than) the time (when) their grain and their wine are abundant.”