Psalm 4:1
New International Version
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David. Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

New Living Translation
Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

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

Berean Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer.

King James Bible
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. 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.

New King James Version
To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

New American Standard Bible
For the music director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

NASB 1995
For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

NASB 1977
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! Thou hast relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the choir director. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

Amplified Bible
To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have freed me when I was hemmed in and relieved me when I was in distress; Be gracious to me and hear [and respond to] my prayer.

Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. † A psalm of David. Answer me when I call, God, who vindicates me. You freed me from affliction; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic psalm. Answer me when I call, God, who vindicates me. You freed me from affliction; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

American Standard Version
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness; Thou hast set me at large when I was in distress: Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
When I called you, you answered me, my God, and the Savior of my righteousness; in my sufferings you inspired me; show mercy upon me and hear my prayer.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the End, a Song of David among the Psalms. When I called upon him, the God of my righteousness heard me: thou hast made room for me in tribulation; pity me, and hearken to my prayer.

Contemporary English Version
You are my God and protector. Please answer my prayer. I was in terrible distress, but you set me free. Now have pity and listen as I pray.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, in verses. A psalm of David. When I called upon him, the God of my justice heard me: when I was in distress, thou hast enlarged me. Have mercy on me: and hear my prayer.

English Revised Version
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness; thou hast set me at large when I was in distress: have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[For the choir director; with stringed instruments; a psalm by David.] Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness. You have freed me from my troubles. Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!

Good News Translation
Answer me when I pray, O God, my defender! When I was in trouble, you helped me. Be kind to me now and hear my prayer.

International Standard Version
When I call, answer me, my righteous God! When I was in distress, you set me free. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

JPS Tanakh 1917
For the Leader; with string-music. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness, Thou who didst set me free when I was in distress; Be gracious unto me, and hear my prayer.

Literal Standard Version
TO THE OVERSEER. WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. A PSALM OF DAVID. In my calling answer me, | O God of my righteousness. In adversity You gave enlargement to me; Favor me, and hear my prayer.

Majority Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer.

New American Bible
For the leader; with stringed instruments. A psalm of David. [2] Answer me when I call, my saving God. When troubles hem me in, set me free; take pity on me, hear my prayer.

NET Bible
For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of David. When I call out, answer me, O God who vindicates me! Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place. Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer!

New Revised Standard Version
Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.

New Heart English Bible
[For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David.] Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. You set me free in my distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

Webster's Bible Translation
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. 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.

World English Bible
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David. Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

Young's Literal Translation
To the Overseer with Stringed Instruments. -- A Psalm of David. In my calling answer Thou me, O God of my righteousness. In adversity Thou gavest enlargement to me; Favour me, and hear my prayer.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Answer Me When I Call!
1For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer. 2How long, O men, will my honor be maligned? How long will you love vanity and seek after lies? Selah…

Cross References
Genesis 26:22
He moved on from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Rehoboth and said, "At last the LORD has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land."

Psalm 3:4
To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah

Psalm 17:6
I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.

Psalm 18:6
In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.

Psalm 18:18
They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the LORD was my support.

Psalm 18:19
He brought me out into the open; He rescued me because He delighted in me.

Psalm 25:16
Turn to me and be gracious, for I am lonely and afflicted.


Treasury of Scripture

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: you have enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

(Title) chief Musician.

Psalm 22:1
To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Psalm 42:1
To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

Psalm 45:1
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Neginoth

Psalm 6:1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

Psalm 67:1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.

Psalm 76:1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.

O

Psalm 11:7
For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

Psalm 24:5
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Psalm 41:12
And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

thou

Psalm 18:18,19
They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay…

Psalm 31:8
And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

Psalm 40:1-3
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry…

have mercy upon me.

Psalm 56:1
To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.

Psalm 57:1
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

Psalm 86:3-5
Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily…

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Chief Corded David Director Distress Ear Enlarged Free Gracious Hear Instruments Leader Merciful Mercy Music Musician Music-Maker Neginoth Prayer Psalm Relief Relieved Right Righteous Righteousness Room Stringed String-Music Troubles
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Chief Corded David Director Distress Ear Enlarged Free Gracious Hear Instruments Leader Merciful Mercy Music Musician Music-Maker Neginoth Prayer Psalm Relief Relieved Right Righteous Righteousness Room Stringed String-Music Troubles
Psalm 4
1. David prays for audience
2. He reproves and exhorts his enemies
6. Man's happiness is in God's favor














(1) Hear me.--Better, In my crying hear me, God of my righteousness.

The conception of God as supremely just, and the assertor of justice, is one of the noblest legacies from the Hebrew faith to the world. It is summed up in the question, "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" The strength of the innocent in the face of calumny or oppression lies in the appeal to the eternal source of righteousness.

Thou hast enlarged.--Better, in my straitness Thou (or, Thou who) hast made room for me. This is a thought very common in the Psalter, and apparently was a favourite phrase of David's, occurring in Psalm 18:19 (comp. Psa. 4:36), and in other psalms attributed to him.

Verse 1. - Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness. Not "the God who imputes to me righteousness," as some render, but "the God who sees that I and my cause are righteous," and who wilt therefore certainly lend me aid. Thou hast enlarged me; or, made room for me - "set me at ease" In the language of the Old Testament, "straits" and "narrowness" mean trouble and affliction; "room," "space," "enlargement," mean prosperity. David has experienced God's mercies in the past, and therefore looks for them in the future (comp. Psalm 3:7). When I woe in distress; literally, in [my] distress. Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. This is David's usual cry, repeated in a hundred varied forms throughout the Psalms (see Psalm 5:2; Psalm 6:2; Psalm 9:13; Psalm 27:7; Psalm 30:10, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For the choirmaster.
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ (lam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5329: To glitter from afar, to be eminent, to be permanent

With stringed instruments.
בִּנְגִינ֗וֹת (bin·ḡî·nō·wṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5058: Instrumental music, a stringed instrument, a poem set to music, an epigram

A Psalm
מִזְמ֥וֹר (miz·mō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4210: Instrumental music, a poem set to notes

of David.
לְדָוִֽד׃ (lə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

Answer
עֲנֵ֤נִי ׀ (‘ă·nê·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

me when I call,
בְּקָרְאִ֡י (bə·qā·rə·’î)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

O God
אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of my righteousness!
צִדְקִ֗י (ṣiḏ·qî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6664: The right, equity, prosperity

You have relieved
הִרְחַ֣בְתָּ (hir·ḥaḇ·tā)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7337: To be or grow wide or large

my distress;
בַּ֭צָּר (baṣ·ṣār)
Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6862: Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent

show me grace
חָ֝נֵּ֗נִי (ḥān·nê·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 2603: To bend, stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, bestow, to implore

and hear
וּשְׁמַ֥ע (ū·šə·ma‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

my prayer.
תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃ (tə·p̄il·lā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8605: Intercession, supplication, a hymn


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OT Poetry: Psalm 4:1 For the Chief Musician (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 3:8
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