Psalm 4

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To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

למנצח (lam’natzei-ach)

“The one who wishes to win the battle of this world should recite this Psalm.” (R’ Nachman of Brezlov)

1 – Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! When I was in distress You have given me relief. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

בצר                              הרחבת

(hir’chav’ta)                    (b’tzar)

2-3 – O men, how long shall you put my honor to shame? How long will you love emptiness and seek after lies? [Selah] But know that Adonai has set apart the godly for Himself. Adonai hears when I call to Him.

ריק (rik) = “emptiness”

פלה (palah) = “to make a distinction”

4 – Tremble, and do not sin. Ponder in your own hearts on your beds and be silent. [Selah]

רגז (ragaz)

Ephesians 4:26  Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger.

5 – Offer sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in Adonai.

6-8  There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of Your face upon us, O Adonai!”  You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Adonai, make me dwell in safety.

“If this is the reward of those who provoke God, how much greater is the reward that lies in store for those who fulfill His will!” (Midrash Tehillim)

REFERENCES:

1 Samuel 15:29  And also the Glory [נצח, netzach] of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.

Leviticus 26:21,23,28  “If then, you act with hostility [קרי, k’ri] against Me and are unwilling to obey Me, I will increase the plague on you seven times according to your sins… And if by these things you are not turned to Me, but act with hostility against Me… then I will act with wrathful hostility against you. And I, even I, will punish you seven times for your sins.”

Psalm 116:11  I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.”

פלה, palah

Exodus 8:22  “But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am Adonai in the midst of the earth.”

Exodus 9:4  “But Adonai will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die.”

Exodus 11:7  “But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that Adonai makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.”

Exodus 15:14  The peoples have heard; they tremble [רגז, ragaz]…

Psalm 18:7  Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled [רגז, ragaz] and quaked, because He was angry [חרה, charah] .

Proverbs 19:23  The fear of Adonai leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.