New English Translation
Psalms 4:1
1When I call out, answer me, O God who vindicates me! Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place. Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer!
Psalms 4:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
- New King James Version (NKJV)Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
Context of Psalms 4:1
When I call out, answer me, O God who vindicates me! Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place. Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer! 2You men, how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is worthless and search for what is deceptive? (Selah) 3Realize that the Lord shows the godly special favor; the Lord responds when I cry out to him.
Read all of Psalms 4Psalms 4:1 word by word
בְּקָרְאִ֡י עֲנֵ֤נִי׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י צִדְקִ֗י בַּ֭צָּר הִרְחַ֣בְתָּ לִּ֑י חָ֝נֵּ֗נִי וּשְׁמַ֥ע תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Hearעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- me when I callקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
- O Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- of my righteousnessצֶ֫דֶקtsedeq · righteousnessH6664
- thou hast enlargedרָחַבrâchab · to enlargeH7337
- in distressצַרtsar tsâr · distressH6862
- have mercyחָנַןchânan · be graciousH2603
- upon me, and hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- my prayerתְּפִלָּהtephillâh · prayerH8605
Cross-references for Psalms 4:1
- Psalms 22:1My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.
- Psalms 42:1As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God!
- Psalms 45:1My heart is stirred by a beautiful song. I say, “I have composed this special song for the king; my tongue is as skilled as the stylus of an experienced scribe.”
- 1 Chronicles 25:1David and the army officers selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy as they played stringed instruments and cymbals. The following men were assigned this responsibility:
- Psalms 6:1Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger! Do not discipline me in your raging fury!
- Psalms 67:1May God show us his favor and bless us! May he smile on us! (Selah)
- Psalms 76:1God has revealed himself in Judah; in Israel his reputation is great.
- Habakkuk 3:19The sovereign Lord is my source of strength. He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain. (This prayer is for the song leader. It is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
- Psalms 11:7Certainly the Lord is just; he rewards godly deeds; the upright will experience his favor.
- Psalms 24:5Such godly people are rewarded by the Lord, and vindicated by the God who delivers them.
- Psalms 41:12As for me, you uphold me because of my integrity; you allow me permanent access to your presence.
- Isaiah 45:24they will say about me, “Yes, the Lord is a powerful deliverer.”’” All who are angry at him will cower before him.
- Jeremiah 23:6Under his rule Judah will enjoy safety and Israel will live in security. This is the name he will go by: ‘The Lord has provided us with justice.’
- 1 Corinthians 1:30He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
- 2 Corinthians 5:20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”
- Psalms 18:18They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.
Commentaries on Psalms 4:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Hear me when I call - No man has a right to expect God to hear him if he do not call. Indeed, how shall he be heard if he speak not? There are multitudes who expect the blessings of God as confidently as if they had prayed for them most fervently; and yet such people pray not at all! God of my righteousness - Whatever pardon, peace, holiness, or truth I possess, has come entirely from thyself. Thou art the God of my salvation, as thou art the God of my…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Hear me when I call - When I pray. The word “hear” in such cases is always used in the sense of “listen to,” “hear favorably,” or “attend to;” hence, in the literal sense it is always true that God “hears” all that is said. The meaning is, “hear and answer me,” or grant me what I ask. O God of my righteousness - That is, O my righteous God. This is a common mode of expression in Hebrew. Thus, in Psalm 2:6, “hill of my holiness,” meaning “my holy hill;”…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The children of men proved, and the happiness of godly people. (1-5) God's favour is happiness. (6-8) Verses 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Waiting for the Lord's answer helps you grow in patience and strengthen your faith (Psalm 38:15).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-81. Hear--as in Psa 3:4. God of my righteousness--or, "my righteous God, as my holy hill" (Psa 2:6), who will act towards me on righteous principles. thou hast enlarged--expresses relief afforded in opposition to "distress," which is expressed by a word denoting straits or pressure. Past favor is a ground of hope for the future.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 4:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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