Psalms 4:7-8

Context

4:7 You make me happier¹

than those who have abundant grain and wine.²

4:8 I will lie down and sleep peacefully,³

for you, Lord, make me safe and secure.⁴

[4:7] ¹tn 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] ²tn Heb “from (i.e., more than) the time (when) their grain and their wine are abundant.”

[4:8] ³tn Heb “in peace at the same time I will lie down and sleep.”

[4:8] ⁴tn Heb “for you, Lord, solitarily, securely make me dwell.” The translation understands לְבָדָד (lÿvadad) as modifying the verb; the Lord keeps enemies away from the psalmist so that he is safe and secure. Another option is to take לְבָדָד with what precedes and translate, “you alone, Lord, make me secure.”