King James Version

Psalms 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.

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 4:2. The heading is Hebrew Psalms 4:1.

Heading in the Hebrew text

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַlamnatsechato excelנָצַחpreposition, with the article, verb, piel, participle, absolute — “to excel”, a verb used as a describing wordH5329properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanentexcel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.בִּנְגִינ֗וֹתbinginotin stringed instrumentנְגִינָהpreposition, noun, common, feminine, plural, absolute — “in stringed instrument”, the ordinary formH5058properly, instrumental music; by implication, a stringed instrument; by extension, a poem set to music; specifically, an epigramstringed instrument, musick, Neginoth (plural), song.מִזְמ֥וֹרmizmorpsalmמִזְמוֹרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “psalm”, the ordinary formH4210properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notespsalm.לְדָוִֽדledavidto Davidדָּוִדpreposition, noun, proper name — “to David”H1732David, the youngest son of JesseDavid.

בְּקָרְאִ֡יbeqareiin callקָרָאpreposition, verb, qal, infinitive construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “in call”, the to-form of the verbH7121to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.עֲנֵ֤נִיanenishoutעָנָהverb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “shout”, a commandH6030properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announcegive account, afflict (by mistake for H6031 (עָנָה)), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for H6031 (עָנָה)), cry, hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, [idiom] scholar, (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter,…אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤יeloheGodאֱלֹהִיםnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct — “God”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlativeangels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.צִדְקִ֗יtsidqirightצֶדֶקnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “right”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6664the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity[idiom] even, ([idiom] that which is altogether) just(-ice), (un-)right(-eous) (cause, -ly, -ness).בַּ֭צָּרbatsarin narrowצַרpreposition, with the article, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “in narrow”, the ordinary formH6862narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ; (transitive) an opponent (as crowding)adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.הִרְחַ֣בְתָּhirchavtamake roomרָחַבverb, hiphil, perfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “make room”, a completed actionH7337to broaden (intransitive or transitive, literal or figurative)be an en-(make) large(-ing), make room, make (open) wide.לִּ֑יlitoלִּ֑יpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “to”toחָ֝נֵּ֗נִיchanenibeseechחָנַןverb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “beseech”, a commandH2603properly, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition)beseech, [idiom] fair, (be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, [idiom] very.וּשְׁמַ֥עushemaand hearשָׁמַעconjunction, verb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “and hear”, a commandH8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)[idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) n…תְּפִלָּתִֽיtefilatiprayerתְּפִלָּהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “prayer”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8605intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymnprayer.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(4-1) For the Leader; with string-music. A Psalm of David. (4-2) 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.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

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.

World English Bible

Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

Darby Translation

When I call, answer me, O God of my righteousness: in pressure thou hast enlarged me; be gracious unto me, and hear my prayer.

Douay-Rheims

Unto the end, in verses. A psalm for David.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

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.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἐν τῷ ἐπικαλεῖσθαί με, εἰσήκουσέ μου ὁ Θεὸς τῆς δικαιοσύνης μου· ἐν θλίψει ἐπλάτυνάς μοι· οἰκτείρησόν με, καὶ εἰσάκουσον τῆς προσευχῆς μου.