The big picture
Psalms 4 opens in verse 1 with “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 4 with “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still…”, and closes in verse 8 with “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD , only makest me dwell in…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, hear, call, heart, long. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 8Psalms 4:1-8
1–8: Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me…
Psalms 4:1–8 opens with “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress…” and reaches “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD , only makest me dwell in safety.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 4 develops its own movement around LORD, hear, call, heart, long, with particular weight carried by LORD, hear, call.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and…” Naming Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 4:1-8
King James Version1Hear 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.
2O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
3But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
4Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD .
6There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD , lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
7Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
8I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD , only makest me dwell in safety.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 4:1 begins with “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.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 4:3 forms a natural hinge: “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.”
The final note
Psalms 4:8 leaves the reader with “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD , only makest me dwell in safety.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, hear, call, heart, long, righteousness help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What opportunity exists before the murder?
Cain receives a warning and a call to resist sin in verse 7. Anger is not treated as an irresistible excuse.
What do the two speeches about vengeance reveal?
God limits retaliation against Cain; Lamech celebrates escalation.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.