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Psalms 4:2

Context

4:2 You men, 1  how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? 2 

How long 3  will you love what is worthless 4 

and search for what is deceptive? 5  (Selah)

Psalms 4:4

Context

4:4 Tremble with fear and do not sin! 6 

Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways! 7  (Selah)

1 tn Heb “sons of man.”

2 tn Heb “how long my honor to shame?”

3 tn The interrogative construction עַד־מֶה (’ad-meh, “how long?”), is understood by ellipsis in the second line.

4 tn Heb “emptiness.”

5 tn Heb “a lie.” Some see the metonymic language of v. 2b (“emptiness, lie”) as referring to idols or false gods. However, there is no solid immediate contextual evidence for such an interpretation. It is more likely that the psalmist addresses those who threaten him (see v. 1) and refers in a general way to their sinful lifestyle. (See R. Mosis, TDOT 7:121.) The two terms allude to the fact that sinful behavior is ultimately fruitless and self-destructive.

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

7 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.”



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