Psalms 4:3-5

4:3 Realize that 1  the Lord shows the godly special favor; 2 

the Lord responds 3  when I cry out to him.

4:4 Tremble with fear and do not sin! 4 

Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways! 5  (Selah)

4:5 Offer the prescribed sacrifices 6 

and trust in the Lord! 7 

1 tn Heb “and know that.”

2 tn Heb “that the Lord sets apart a faithful one for himself.” The psalmist states a general principle, though the singular form and the parallel line indicate he has himself in mind as the representative godly person. A חָסִיד (khasid; here translated as “the godly”) is one who does what is right in God’s eyes and remains faithful to God (see Pss 12:1; 18:25; 31:23; 37:28; 86:2; 97:10).

3 tn Heb “hears.”

4 sn The psalmist warns his enemies that they need to tremble with fear before God and repudiate their sinful ways.

5 tn Heb “say in your heart(s) on your bed(s) and wail/lament.” The verb דֹמּוּ (dommu) is understood as a form of דָמָם (“wail, lament”) in sorrow and repentance. Another option is to take the verb from II דָמָם (damam, “be quiet”); cf. NIV, NRSV “be silent.”

6 tn Or “proper, right.” The phrase also occurs in Deut 33:19 and Ps 51:19.

7 sn Trust in the Lord. The psalmist urges his enemies to make peace with God and become his followers.