6 Many are saying, `Who doth show us good?' Lift on us the light of Thy face, O Jehovah,
O Jehovah, God of Hosts, turn us back, Cause Thy face to shine, and we are saved!
God of Hosts, turn us back, And cause Thy face to shine, and we are saved.
Thy face cause to shine on Thy servant, And teach me Thy statutes.
O the happiness of the people knowing the shout, O Jehovah, in the light of Thy face they walk habitually.
`And -- a certain man was rich, and was clothed in purple and fine linen, making merry sumptuously every day,
Go, now, ye rich! weep, howling over your miseries that are coming upon `you'; your riches have rotted, and your garments have become moth-eaten; your gold and silver have rotted, and the rust of them for a testimony shall be to you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye made treasure in the last days! lo, the reward of the workmen, of those who in-gathered your fields, which hath been fraudulently kept back by you -- doth cry out, and the exclamations of those who did reap into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth have entered; ye did live in luxury upon the earth, and were wanton; ye did nourish your hearts, as in a day of slaughter;
For Thou makest him blessings for ever, Thou dost cause him to rejoice with joy, By Thy countenance.
and I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast many good things laid up for many years, be resting, eat, drink, be merry.
I have sought in my heart to draw out with wine my appetite, (and my heart leading in wisdom), and to take hold on folly till that I see where `is' this -- the good to the sons of man of that which they do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives. I made great my works, I builded for me houses, I planted for me vineyards. I made for me gardens and paradises, and I planted in them trees of every fruit. I made for me pools of water, to water from them a forest shooting forth trees. I got men-servants, and maid-servants, and sons of the house were to me; also, I had much substance -- herd and flock -- above all who had been before me in Jerusalem. I gathered for me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I prepared for me men-singers and women-singers, and the luxuries of the sons of man -- a wife and wives. And I became great, and increased above every one who had been before me in Jerusalem; also, my wisdom stood with me. And all that mine eyes asked I kept not back from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labour, and this hath been my portion, from all my labour, and I have looked on all my works that my hands have done, and on the labour that I have laboured to do, and lo, the whole `is' vanity and vexation of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun! And I turned to see wisdom, and madness, and folly, but what `is' the man who cometh after the king? that which `is' already -- they have done it! And I saw that there is an advantage to wisdom above folly, like the advantage of the light above the darkness. The wise! -- his eyes `are' in his head, and the fool in darkness is walking, and I also knew that one event happeneth with them all; and I said in my heart, `As it happeneth with the fool, it happeneth also with me, and why am I then more wise?' And I spake in my heart, that also this `is' vanity: That there is no remembrance to the wise -- with the fool -- to the age, for that which `is' already, `in' the days that are coming is all forgotten, and how dieth the wise? with the fool! And I have hated life, for sad to me `is' the work that hath been done under the sun, for the whole `is' vanity and vexation of spirit. And I have hated all my labour that I labour at under the sun, because I leave it to a man who is after me. And who knoweth whether he is wise or foolish? yet he doth rule over all my labour that I have laboured at, and that I have done wisely under the sun! this also `is' vanity. And I turned round to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour that I laboured at under the sun. For there is a man whose labour `is' in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity, and to a man who hath not laboured therein he giveth it -- his portion! Even this `is' vanity and a great evil. For what hath been to a man by all his labour, and by the thought of his heart that he laboured at under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail sadness; even at night his heart hath not lain down; this also `is' vanity. There is nothing good in a man who eateth, and hath drunk, and hath shewn his soul good in his labour. This also I have seen that it `is' from the hand of God. For who eateth and who hasteth out more than I? For to a man who `is' good before Him, He hath given wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; and to a sinner He hath given travail, to gather and to heap up, to give to the good before God. Even this `is' vanity and vexation of spirit.
To the Overseer. -- `On the Lilies.' A testimony of Asaph. -- A Psalm. Shepherd of Israel, give ear, Leading Joseph as a flock, Inhabiting the cherubs -- shine forth, Before Ephraim, and Benjamin, and Manasseh, Wake up Thy might, and come for our salvation. O God, cause us to turn back, And cause Thy face to shine, and we are saved.
Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant, For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him. For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.) It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light. Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!
For, not by their sword Possessed they the land, And their arm gave not salvation to them, But Thy right hand, and Thine arm, And the light of Thy countenance, Because Thou hadst accepted them.
What! bowest thou thyself, O my soul? Yea, art thou troubled within me? Wait for God, for still I confess Him: The salvation of my countenance -- My God!
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 4
Commentary on Psalms 4 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 4
Ps 4:1-8. On Neginoth, that is, stringed instruments, as the kind of musical accompaniment. On other parts of title, see Introduction., The historical occasion was probably the same as that of the foregoing [see on Ps 3:1]. The writer, praying for further relief, admonishes his enemies of the vanity of attacking God's servant, exhorts them to repentance, and avows his confidence and peace in God's favor.
1. Hear—as in Ps 3:4.
God of my righteousness—or, "my righteous God, as my holy hill" (Ps 2:6), who will act towards me on righteous principles.
thou hast enlarged—expresses relief afforded in opposition to "distress," which is expressed by a word denoting straits or pressure. Past favor is a ground of hope for the future.
2. sons of men—men of note or prominence (compare 2Ch 21:9).
turn my glory—or, "royal dignity."
into shame—or, "reproach."
vanity—a foolish and hopeless enterprise (Ps 2:1).
leasing—a lie.
3. godly—an object as well as subject of divine favor (compare Ps 105:14, 15).
4. Stand in awe—(Eph 4:26), from Septuagint, "be angry." Both clauses are qualified by "not."
5. Not only repent, but manifest penitence by sacrifices or righteousness or righteous sacrifices, &c.
6, 7. Contrast true with vain confidence.
light of thy countenance upon us—figure for favor (Nu 6:26; Ps 44:3; 81:16).
7. corn and wine—literally, "new corn and wine."
increased—an abundant harvest giving great joy (Isa 9:3).
8. both lay me down, &c.—or, will lie down at once, and sleep in sure confidence and quiet repose (Ps 3:5).