New King James Version
Psalms 4:6
6There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
Psalms 4:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
- New International Version (NIV)Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” Let the light of your face shine on us.
- English Standard Version (ESV)There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!"
- New Living Translation (NLT)Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, Lord.
Context of Psalms 4:6
4Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah 5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the Lord. There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. 7You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. 8I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Read all of Psalms 4Psalms 4:6 word by word
רַבִּ֥ים אֹמְרִים֮ מִֽי־יַרְאֵ֪נ֫וּ ט֥וֹב נְֽסָה־עָ֭לֵינוּ א֨וֹר פָּנֶ֬יךָ יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 4:6
- Psalms 39:6Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
- Psalms 49:16Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased;
- Ecclesiastes 2:3I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.
- Isaiah 55:2Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
- Luke 12:19And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’
- Luke 16:19“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.
- James 4:13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;
- James 5:1Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!
- Psalms 21:6For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.
- Psalms 42:5Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
- Psalms 44:3For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them.
- Psalms 67:1God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah
- Psalms 80:1Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!
- Psalms 89:15Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.
- Psalms 119:135Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes.
- Numbers 6:26The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’
Commentaries on Psalms 4:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Who will show us any good? - This is not a fair translation. The word any is not in the text, nor any thing equivalent to it; and not a few have quoted it, and preached upon the text, placing the principal emphasis on this illegitimate word. The place is sufficiently emphatic without this. There are multitudes who say, Who will show us good? Man wants good; he hates evil as evil, because he has pain, suffering, and death through it; and he wishes to find…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6There be many that say - Some have supposed, as DeWette and others, that the allusion of the psalmist here is to his own followers, and that the reference is to their anxious fears in their misfortunes, as if they were poor and forsaken, and knew not from from where the supply of their wants would come. The more probable interpretation, however, is that the allusion is to the general anxiety of mankind, as contrasted with the feelings and desires of the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-8Verses 6-8 Wordly people inquire for good, not for the chief good; all they want is outward good, present good, partial good, good meat, good drink, a good trade, and a good estate; but what are all these worth? Any good will serve the turn of most men, but a gracious soul will not be put off so. Lord, let us have thy favour, and let us know that we have it, we desire no more; let us be satisfied of thy loving-kindness, and will be satisfied with it. Many…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6the light of Your face: When the psalmist speaks about God’s face, he is asking for God’s favor and peace (Numbers 6:25–26). God’s favor can change a situation from darkness to light (see Psalm 27:1). Confident faith protects against anger, resentment, jealousy, and a desire for wealth as the highest good. When God’s favor is enough, other desires lose their power.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-76-7. Contrast true with vain confidence. light of thy countenance upon us--figure for favor (Nu 6:26; Psa 44:3; 81:16).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 4:6
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries