Psalms 3:4

To the Lord I cried out, ¹  and he answered me from his holy hill. ²  (Selah)

Ps 2:6; Ps 22:2-5; Ps 34:4; Ps 34:6; Ps 43:3; Ps 50:15; Ps 66:17-19; Ps 86:3,4; Ps 91:15; Ps 99:9; Ps 116:1-4; Ps 130:1,2; Ps 132:13,14; Ps 138:3; Ps 142:1-3; Isa 65:24; Jer 29:12,13; Mt 7:7; Jas 5:13

¹ tn The prefixed verbal form could be an imperfect, yielding the translation “I cry out,” but the verb form in the next line (a vav [ו] consecutive with the preterite) suggests this is a brief narrative of what has already happened. Consequently the verb form in v. 4a is better understood as a preterite, “I cried out.” (For another example of the preterite of this same verb form, see Ps 30:8.) Sometime after the crisis arose, the psalmist prayed to the Lord and received an assuring answer. Now he confidently awaits the fulfillment of the divine promise.

² sn His holy hill. That is, Zion (see Pss 2:6; 48:1-2). The psalmist recognizes that the Lord dwells in his sanctuary on Mount Zion.