What does Psalms Chapter 4 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The prayer recalls being heard in distress and asks mercy. It questions vanity and exhorts anger without sin, sorrow upon beds, sacrifice and trust. It speaks of light and gladness, multiplied corn/wine/oil, future sleep and hope; the edition separately interprets the title.

Chapter breakdown

The Latin incipit is Cum invocarem, and the separate heading teaches fleeing to God in tribulation with confidence. The inscription is unto the end, in verses, a psalm for David. The prayer recalls that the God of the speaker's justice heard him and enlarged him in distress, then asks mercy and hearing. It asks the sons of men how long they will be dull-hearted, loving vanity and seeking lies, and says the Lord has made His holy one wonderful and will hear the speaker's cry.

In the psalmist’s speech, the prayer exhorts anger without sin and sorrow on one's bed for what is said in the heart. It calls for the sacrifice of justice and trust, reporting many asking who shows good things. It says the Lord's countenance is signed upon them and He gave gladness in the speaker's heart; separately it says they are multiplied by corn, wine and oil. It does not explicitly compare the quantities of joy. The speaker says he will sleep and rest in peace because the Lord singularly settled him in hope.

In the psalmist’s speech, the separate title note gives Jerome's victori, to the one overcoming; some interpret chief musician and psalms given for singing. The note instead refers these psalms to Christ, end of law and conqueror of death and hell, and the New Testament. It says neghinoth is supposed by some to be a musical instrument and for/to David means inspired to David or to be sung.

The story inside

Opening: The prayer recalls being heard in distress and asks mercy. Development: It questions vanity and exhorts anger without sin, sorrow upon beds, sacrifice and trust. Conclusion: It speaks of light and gladness, multiplied corn/wine/oil, future sleep and hope; the edition separately interprets the title.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The prayer recalls being heard in distress and asks mercy.
2
It questions vanity and exhorts anger without sin, sorrow upon beds, sacrifice and trust.
3
It speaks of light and gladness, multiplied corn/wine/oil, future sleep and hope; the edition separately interprets the title.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 57928–57936
Unto the end.... Or, as St. Jerome renders it, victori, to him that overcometh: which some understand of the chief musician
Lines 57938–57940
When I called upon him, the God of my justice heard me: when I was in distress, thou hast enlarged me. Have mercy on me: and hear my prayer.
Lines 57948–57949
Be ye angry, and sin not: the things you say in your hearts, be sorry for them upon your beds.
Lines 57954–57955
The light of thy countenance, O Lord, is signed upon us: thou hast given gladness in my heart.
Lines 57962–57962
For thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope.