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Psalm 4:1
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David. Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
1For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David. Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
2You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? Will you love vanity and seek after falsehood? Selah.
3But know that the LORD has set apart for himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to him.
Notice
“Answer me when I call” has an urgency you may recognize: David asks God for relief while his distress is still unresolved.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What distress would you name if you began your prayer with David’s request for relief?
Write on thisHow does David’s appeal for mercy shape what you want to say to God today?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
2 Corinthians 1:10who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver, on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us,David asks God for relief from distress; Paul recounts deliverance and sets his hope on God for deliverance still to come.
Psalm 61:1For the Chief Musician. For a stringed instrument. By David. Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.Both prayers begin with David asking God to hear him, and both carry directions for stringed instruments.
Exodus 34:6–7The LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, “The LORD! The LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth,David asks God for mercy, and Exodus records the LORD proclaiming himself merciful and gracious.
Psalm 40:1–3For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me, and heard my cry.Psalm 4 asks God to hear; Psalm 40 recounts waiting for the LORD and having that cry heard.
Ephesians 6:18with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints.David makes a direct request to God, while Ephesians urges prayer and requests at all times in the Spirit.
Psalm 18:18–19They came on me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.Both texts speak of trouble in relation to God: David seeks relief in Psalm 4 and recounts God's support in Psalm 18.
Psalm 51:1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, according to your …Both prayers ask God for mercy; Psalm 4 names distress, while Psalm 51 names transgressions.
2 Corinthians 5:20–21We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.The shared thread is an urgent appeal concerning God: David asks God to hear, while Paul begs his hearers to be reconciled to God.
Jeremiah 23:6In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. This is his name by which he will be called: The LORD our righteousness.Both texts link righteousness with God: David addresses the God of his righteousness, and Jeremiah names the LORD as his people's righteousness.
Habakkuk 3:19GOD, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and enables me to go in high places. For the music director, on my stringed instruments.Both passages address dependence on God and include directions for music with stringed instruments.
Isaiah 45:24They will say of me, ‘There is righteousness and strength only in the LORD.’” Even to him will men come. All those who raged against him will be disappointed.David addresses God as the God of his righteousness; Isaiah declares that righteousness and strength are in the LORD alone.
1 Samuel 17:37David said, “The LORD, who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” Saul …David looks to God for help in both passages, asking for relief in the psalm and expressing confidence in deliverance before facing the Philistine.
Where this verse fits
Anxiety or panic. waiting. wanting a steady prayer habit.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Your prayer need not wait until distress has passed. David speaks from within his trouble, addressing the God of his righteousness and asking for mercy.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 4:1. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).