Psalms 4 (KJV)

Chapter Text

4:1 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.

4:2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

4:3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

4:6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

4:7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "light", "mercy", "hear", "call", "righteousness", "thou", "hast", and "enlarged". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "light" and "mercy", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local KJV text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "light" and "mercy" carries the first interpretive weight. In The LORD as Shepherd, the local focus is trust, covenant mercy, guidance, and worship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "light" and "mercy" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.