Psalms — Chapter 4
For the leader; with instrumental music.aFor the leader; with instrumental music Meaning of Heb. uncertain. A psalm of David.
Answer me when I call,O God, my vindicator!You freed me from distress;have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
You who side against me,bwho side against me Or “high and mighty ones,” or “people”; force of Heb. uncertain. how long will my glory be mocked,will you love illusions,have recourse to frauds? Selah.
Know that GOD keeps the faithful close; GOD hears when I call out.
So tremble, and sin no more;ponder it on your bed, and sigh.csigh In contrast to others “be still.” Selah.
Offer sacrifices in righteousnessand trust in GOD.
Many say, “O for good days!”Bestow Your favor on us,dBestow Your favor on us Lit. “Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us”; cf. Num. 6.25–26. O ETERNAL One.
You put joy into my heartwhen their grain and wine show increase.
Safe and sound, I lie down and sleep,for You alone, O ETERNAL One, keep me secure.efor You alone, O ETERNAL ONE, keep me secure Or “for You, O ETERNAL ONE, keep me alone and secure.”
✦ Connected Across Traditions
The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:12
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Hadith (An-Nawawi 13)
“None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”
Mahabharata 5.1517
“One should never do to another what one regards as injurious to oneself.”
Dhammapada 10:1
“All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.”
Divine Compassion & Mercy
Quran 1:1
“In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”
Luke 6:36
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Snp 1.8
“As a mother would risk her life to protect her child, her only child, even so should one cultivate a limitless heart with regard to all beings.”
Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1
“One Universal Creator God. The Name Is Truth. Creative Being Personified. No Fear. No Hatred.”
Good vs Evil / Light vs Darkness
Yasna 30:3
“Now the two primal Spirits, who reveal themselves as Twins, are the Better and the Bad, in thought and word and action.”
John 1:5
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Dhammapada 1:1-2
“Mind is the forerunner of all actions. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows like a shadow.”
Bhagavad Gita 16:21
“There are three gates to self-destructive hell: lust, anger, and greed. Therefore, one must learn to give these up.”