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George Haydock's Catholic Commentary

Psalms 4:6

Justice. External devotion will not suffice. (St. Chrysostom) --- No sacrifice will please God as long as people take part with rebels. (Calmet) --- Besides external sacrifices, which have always been required, and those of praise and contrition, (Psalm xlix., and l.) we must offer to God the sacrifice of justice, by complying with our duties to him, ourselves, and neighbours, and by hating sin, and also the world, the flesh, and the devil, which prompt us to offend, and thus to give the preference to vanity. For this purpose, we must not trust in ourselves, but in God; and that no one may plead ignorance, the light of reason and grace is given us, plainly indicating that we have a God to serve, and must expect reward or punishment, Hebrews xi. 6. (Worthington)

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See also Psalms 4:6 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Psalms 4:6. _WHO WILL SHOW US_ ANY _GOOD?_] This is not a fair translation. The word _any_ is not in the text, nor any thing equivalent to it; and not a few have quoted _it_, and preached upon t...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THERE BE MANY THAT SAY - Some have supposed, as DeWette and others, that the allusion of the psalmist here is to his own followers, and that the reference is to their anxious fears in their misfortune...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 4 __ 1. The cry to Jehovah (Psalms 4:1) 2. The warning to the enemies (Psalms 4:4) 3. The assurance of faith (Psalms 4:6)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    IV. AN EVENING HYMN BY A MAN HIGH IN OFFICE WHOSE RULE EXCITES JEALOUSY AND RESISTANCE. The Psalmist begins with an appeal to the God of his righteousness, _i.e._ the God who declares that his case is...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THAT SAY... GOOD. See note on Psalms 144:12. LIFT THOU UP. No priest with David to give the blessing of Numbers 6:24. See 2 Samuel 15:32. COUNTENANCE. Figure of speech _Anthropopatheia_.

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THERE BE MANY THAT SAY, &C.— _There be many_ (the multitude, the generality of men, in almost every station) _that say, who will shew us any good? i.e._ "Who will heap honours upon us? Who will point...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PSALMS 4 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE The Ideal Levite's Evening Prayer. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 4:1, New Favour Sought in the Strength of Past Supplies. Stanza II., Psalms 4:2, Expostulation addressed to...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _THERE BE MANY THAT SAY, WHO WILL SHEW US ANY GOOD? LORD, LIFT THOU UP THE LIGHT OF THY COUNTENANCE UPON US._ Many ... say, Who will show us any good? Many, admist overwhelming troubles, such as the...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    This is an evening hymn, and though no occasion is mentioned it may perhaps be referred, like Psalms 3 (its natural companion), to the time of Absalom's revolt, but to a somewhat later stage in the co...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    _There be_ MANY] possibly in allusion to the discontented people whom Absalom sought to win by fair promises (2 Samuel 15:4). LORD, LIFT THOU UP] a striking transition from the vain quests of men to t...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Psalms 1:41 _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ Words in boxes are from the Bible. The notes explain some of the words with a *star by them. Tap the * before a word to show an explanation. The translated Bible tex...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THERE BE MANY. — Around the fugitive king were many whose courage was not so high, nor their faith so firm, as his. He hears their expressions of despair — “Talking like this world’s brood.” — MILTON...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Psalms 4:7]_ רַבִּ֥ים אֹמְרִים֮ מִֽי ־יַרְאֵ֪נוּ֫ טֹ֥וב...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 4:1 Psalms 3:1; Psalms 4:1 are a pair. They are similar in expression (my glory, there be many which say, I laid me down and slept) in the psalmist's situation, and in structure (as indicated b...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERS Psalms 3:1; Psalms 4:1 These psalms probably date from David's flight before Absalom, 2 Samuel 16:1. It is the perfection of trust to be able to sleep when our foes are ma...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This is a song of the evening. The general circumstances out of which it rises are the same as those of the previous psalm. Now, however, the day into which the singer marched with confidence is over....

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    [There be] many that say, Who will shew us [any] (k) good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. (k) The multitude seeks worldly wealth, but David sets his happiness in God's favou...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Is not this exhibited in the world every day? While some are sending out their thoughts, and wishes, and expectations, to invite any vanity, any folly; the people of God are looking up to Jesus, and a...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    6._Many say. _Some are of opinion that David here complains of the cruel malice of his enemies, because they greedily sought for his life. But David, I have no doubt, compares the sole wish with which...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Psalms 4 differs in this respect from Psalms 3, of which we shall see other examples, that it is not simple confidence, but appeals to righteousness against the sons of men, who turn all the glory tha...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    [THERE BE] MANY THAT SAY, WHO WILL SHOW US [ANY] GOOD?.... These may be thought to be the men of the world; carnal worldly minded men, seeking after temporal good, and taking up their rest and content...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Psalms 4:6 [There be] many that say, Who will shew us [any] good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Ver. 6. _There be many that say, Who will show us, &c._] This is _Vox populi...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _There be many that say_, &c. _There be many_ (the multitude, the generality of men in almost every station) _that say, Who will show us any good?_ That is, “Who will heap honours upon us? Who will po...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    There be many that say, even in the little band of his faithful followers, WHO WILL SHOW US ANY GOOD? Would it be possible for them to experience deliverance in this time of great trouble? It is the c...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    EVENING PRAYER OF A CHRISTIAN IN EVERY KIND OF TROUBLE. David, in his flight before Absalom, had come to Mahanaim, on the east side of Jordan, 2 Samuel 17:24. He had a number of faithful men with him,...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    6-8 Wordly people inquire for good, not for the chief good; all they want is outward good, present good, partial good, good meat, good drink, a good trade, and a good estate; but what are all these w...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THERE BE MANY; either, 1. Of my own followers, who are weary of waiting upon God, and ready to despair. Or rather, 2. Of mine enemies, and of the body of the people, who were either engaged against h...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 4:6 many H7227 say H559 (H8802) show H7200 (H8686) good H2896 LORD H3068 up H5375 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Many there are who say, “Who will show us any good? Yahweh, lift up the light of your face on us,” Glad in heart he is aware that many who have been against him, or have been neutral, are now having...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Psalms 4 I. Everywhere, in the history of the human heart, these two things are found in the hours of our bitter pain: unfathomable desire and want of something more than earth or its love can give, a...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Psalms 4:6 I. Consider, first, the question: "There be many that say, Who will show us any good?" Now, whoever these persons may be, it is plain from the language here attributed to them that they are...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Psalms 4:6 I. Look, first, at that which the Psalmist seeks: the light of God's countenance. (1) The first thing which this implies is that we are noticed by the Divine Being. God's countenance at lea...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 4:1. _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._ Past experience is a sweet solace in the hour of t...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 4:1. _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._ Good men want to be heard when they pray, they are...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: David's exhortation to others to serve God. CHARACTERS: God, David. CONCLUSION: The godly are chosen, and by distinguished grace set apart and separated from men, all the longings of the s...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Psalms 4:3. _Him that is godly._ חסיךְ _chasik,_ merciful. The literal reading is by far the best, because it designates godliness by the fruits of piety. Psalms 4:4. _Stand in awe._ St. Paul here fol...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness._ A GENTLE REMONSTRANCE This Psalm is mainly a gentle, earnest remonstrance with antagonists, seeking to win them to a better mind. The cry for an answ...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _There be many that say, Who win show us any good?_ SEEING FOR GOOD Truth and happiness go together, like light and heat in the sun. God is the fountain of blessedness, because He is the Father of l...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 4:1. This psalm expresses quiet trust amid troubling circumstances, combining the categories of individual lament and confidence....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    NIGHT THOUGHTS _Introduction_ “The Psalmist prays God to deliver him from present as from past distresses (Psalms 4:2). 1. He assures the haters of his regal dignity that God bestowed it, and will...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION AGAIN the psalm has a title, "To the chief Musician on Neginoth. A Psalm of David;" literally, "to the_ _superintendent or foreman," which, in this instance, would be the choir-leader, or ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    The fourth psalm is to the chief musician on Neginoth. Now Neginoth is a stringed instrument, and it is mentioned in connection with several of the Psalms--3, 5, 53, 54, 60, 66, and 75. So it is some...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Ecclesiastes 2:3; Isaiah 55:2; James 4:13; James 5:1; Luke 12:19;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    A PSALM OF SUPPLICATION Psalms 4:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. The prayer of Cornelius. As an introductory to the study of Psalms 4:1, which sets forth a great prayer of David, we thought we would give s...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Many — Of my followers, who are weary of waiting upon God. Who — Who will put an end to our troubles, and give us tranquility. Lift up — Upon me and my friends. Give us an assurance of thy love, and e...

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