Christianity

Psalms 4An Evening Prayer of Peace

Summary

Psalm 4 is a short evening prayer in which the speaker asks God to hear him, then turns to rebuke those who love vanity and seek falsehood. He urges them to stand in awe, search their hearts on their beds and trust the LORD. The psalm ends with the calm of lying down to sleep in safety. Traditionally ascribed to David, it is among the psalms of Compline, the night prayer of Western Christian tradition.

Key verse

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

Psalms 4:8

Themes

Evening Prayer
Inner Peace
Trust
Gladness of Heart

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Christianity
Ephesians 4: Be Angry and Sin Not
Ephesians 4:26 echoes the Greek Septuagint wording of Psalm 4:4, rendered in the KJV as Stand in awe, and sin not, applying it to anger within the Christian community.
Judaism
Tehillim 4 in the JPS 1917 Tanakh
The Hebrew heading assigns the psalm to the choirmaster with stringed instruments, and its line about reflecting on your bed is often cited in Jewish teaching on examining one's conduct before sleep.

Questions about Psalms 4

Is Psalm 4 a bedtime prayer?

Many Jews and Christians use it that way. Verse 8 speaks of lying down in peace and sleeping, and the psalm is part of the Western Christian night office of Compline.

What does commune with your own heart upon your bed mean?

Psalm 4:4 urges quiet self-examination rather than angry action. Readers take it as advice to pause, reflect and be still before God at night.