Psalm 4-6

Easy-to-Read Version

To the director: With stringed instruments. A song of David.

4 God, you showed that I was innocent.
You gave me relief from all my troubles.
So listen to me now when I call to you for help.
Be kind to me and hear my prayer.

²Men,^[a] how long will you try to dishonor me?
Do you enjoy wasting your time searching for new lies against me? Selah

³You can be sure that anyone who serves the Lord faithfully is special to him.
The Lord listens when I pray to him.

⁴Tremble with fear, and stop sinning.^[b]
Think about this when you go to bed, and calm down. Selah
⁵Give the right sacrifices to the Lord,
and put your trust in him!

⁶Many people say, “I wish I could enjoy the good life.
Lord, give us some of those blessings.”^[c]
⁷But you have made me happier than they will ever be with all their wine and grain.
⁸When I go to bed, I sleep in peace,
because, Lord, you keep me safe.

To the director: With flutes.^[d] A song of David.

5 Lord, listen to me
    and understand what I am trying to say.
²My God and King,
    listen to my prayer.
³Every morning, Lord, I lay my gifts before you
    and look to you for help.
And every morning you hear my prayers.

⁴God, you don’t want evil people near you.
    They cannot stay in your presence.^[e]
⁵Fools^[f] cannot come near you.
    You hate those who do evil.
⁶You destroy those who tell lies.
    Lord, you hate those who make secret plans to hurt others.

⁷But by your great mercy, I can enter your house.
    I can worship in your holy Temple with fear and respect for you.
⁸Lord, show me your right way of living,
    and make it easy for me to follow.
People are looking for my weaknesses,
    so show me how you want me to live.
⁹My enemies never tell the truth.
    They only want to destroy people.
Their words come from mouths that are like open graves.
    They use their lying tongues to deceive others.^[g]
¹⁰Punish them, God!
    Let them be caught in their own traps.
They have turned against you,
    so punish them for their many crimes.
¹¹But let those who trust in you be happy forever.
    Protect and strengthen those who love your name.
¹²Lord, when you bless good people,
    you surround them with your love, like a large shield that protects them.

To the director: With stringed instruments, on the sheminith. A song of David.

6 Lord, don’t punish me.
    Don’t correct me when you are so angry.
²Lord, be kind to me.
    I am sick and weak.
Heal me, Lord!
    My bones are shaking.
³    I am trembling all over.
Lord, how long until you heal me?^[h]
⁴Lord, come back and make me strong again.
    Save me because you are so loyal and kind.
⁵If I am dead, I cannot sing about you.
    Those in the grave don’t praise you.

⁶Lord, I am so weak.
    I cried to you all night.
My pillow is soaked;
    my bed is dripping wet from my tears.
⁷My enemies have caused me such sorrow
    that my eyes are worn out from crying.

⁸Go away, you wicked people,
because the Lord has heard my cries.
⁹The Lord has heard my request for mercy.
The Lord has accepted my prayer.

¹⁰All my enemies will be filled with fear and shame.
They will be sorry when disgrace suddenly comes upon them.

Footnotes

Psalm 4:2 Men Literally, “Sons of man.” This may be a term of respect spoken to the leaders who were judging the writer of this psalm.
Psalm 4:4 Or “Be angry, but don’t sin.” See Eph. 4:26, which is based on the ancient Greek version.
Psalm 4:6 I wish … blessings Or “Who will show us good. Lift up on us the light of your face, Lord.”
Psalm 5:1 Psalm 5 With flutes This might be the name of a tune instead of a type of instrument.
Psalm 5:4 Or “You are not a God who likes evil people, and they don’t respect you.”
Psalm 5:5 Fools Here, this means people who do not follow God and his wise teachings.
Psalm 5:9 They use … others Or “They say nice things to others, but only to trap them.”
Psalm 6:3 Lord … heal me Literally, “As for you, Lord, how long?”