Psalm 4 is an evening psalm of trust: “When I called upon him, the God of my justice heard me,” and it ends, “In peace in the selfsame I will sleep, and I will rest: For thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope.” The Church prays it at Night Prayer on Saturday evenings, as Sunday begins. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 4 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, in verses. A psalm for David.
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.
O ye sons of men, how long will you be dull of heart? why do you love vanity, and seek after lying?
Know ye also that the Lord hath made his holy one wonderful: the Lord will hear me when I shall cry unto him.
Be angry, and sin not: the things you say in your hearts, be sorry for them upon your beds.
Offer up the sacrifice of justice, and trust in the Lord: many say, Who sheweth us good things?
The light of thy countenance O Lord, is signed upon us: thou hast given gladness in my heart.
By the fruit of their corn, their wine and oil, they are multiplied.
In peace in the selfsame I will sleep, and I will rest:
For thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope.
Psalm 4: the same number in every Bible
Psalm 4 has the same number in the Douay-Rheims and in modern Bibles: the Greek and Latin numbering used by the Douay only differs from the Hebrew numbering between Psalms 10 and 147. In Latin the psalm begins Cum invocarem exaudivit me Deus iustitiae meae. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- God answers prayer: “when I was in distress, thou hast enlarged me.”
- Turning from vanity: “why do you love vanity, and seek after lying?”
- “Be angry, and sin not”: St. Paul quotes this verse (Ephesians 4:26). Examine your heart “upon your beds” before sleep.
- The light of God’s face: the Latin “Signatum est super nos lumen vultus tui,” “The light of thy countenance O Lord, is signed upon us,” was long linked with the Sign of the Cross. See the Sign of the Cross.
- Peaceful sleep: gladness from God is better than any harvest, and the trusting heart can rest.
How the Church uses Psalm 4
- At Night Prayer (Compline) on Saturday evening, after Evening Prayer I of Sunday. See Compline.
- On the Third Sunday of Easter (Year B): “Lord, let your face shine on us.”
- As a bedtime prayer for families. See Catholic night prayers.
A prayer with Psalm 4
Written for this page:
Lord, you heard me when I called; you set me free in my distress.
Calm my anger and examine my heart before I sleep.
Let the light of your face shine upon me.
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Where is “In peace I will lie down and sleep”?
Psalm 4:9 (Douay-Rheims and New American Bible; 4:8 in some Bibles).
Why is Psalm 4 prayed at night?
Because it ends with peaceful sleep in God’s care, and the Church prays it at Night Prayer.
More psalms and prayers
- Psalm 134 (Bless the Lord through the night)
- Psalm 3 (You, Lord, are my shield)
- Psalm 5 (In the morning you hear my voice)
- Psalms for protection
- Psalms for anxiety
- Psalm 91
- Psalm 31
- Compline (Night Prayer)
- Catholic night prayers
- How many psalms are there?
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 4; Ephesians 4:26, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.