Psalms 4:6

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Many say,“Who can show us anything good?” Smile upon us, LORD!

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

זִבְח֥וּ זִבְחֵי־צֶ֑דֶק וּ֝בִטְח֗וּ אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃

Transliteration

zibḥû zibḥê-ṣedeq and-biṭḥû to-YHWH

Grammar Details

• *zibḥû*: verb Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural - sacrifice/offer
• *zibḥê*: noun masculine plural construct - sacrifices of
• *ṣedeq*: noun masculine singular - righteousness
• *biṭḥû*: verb Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural with prefixed conjunction ו (and) - trust
• *YHWH*: proper noun with prefixed preposition אֶל (to/toward) - the LORD

Word Meanings

• *zibḥû*: sacrifice/offer/slaughter
• *zibḥê-ṣedeq*: sacrifices of righteousness/righteous offerings/right sacrifices
• *biṭḥû*: trust/rely on/have confidence in

Referenced Verses

• Ps 80:7 : 7 O God of Heaven’s Armies, restore us! Smile on us! Then we will be delivered!
• Ps 80:19 : 19 O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, restore us! Smile on us! Then we will be delivered!
• Num 6:26 : 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”’
• Ps 67:1 : 1 For the music director; to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm, a song. May God show us his favor and bless us! May he smile on us!(Selah)
• Ps 89:15 : 15 How blessed are the people who worship you! O LORD, they experience your favor.
• Ps 119:135 : 135 Smile on your servant! Teach me your statutes!
• Eccl 2:3-9 : 3 I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine(all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives. 4 Futility of Materialism I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself. 5 I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees. 7 I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock– both herds and flocks– than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem. 8 I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight– a harem of beautiful concubines! 9 So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity: 10 I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort. 11 Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded:“All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless– like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.” 12 Wisdom is Better than Folly Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done? 13 I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness: 14 The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both. 15 So I thought to myself,“The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?” So I lamented to myself,“The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!” 16 For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies– just like the fool! 17 So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile– like chasing the wind. 18 Futility of Being a Workaholic So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor. 19 Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile! 20 So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth. 21 For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice! 22 Painful Days and Restless Nights What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth? 23 For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile! 24 Enjoy Work and its Benefits There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God. 25 For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him. 26 For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth– only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile– like chasing the wind!
• Isa 55:2 : 2 Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing! Enjoy fine food!
• Luke 12:19 : 19 And I will say to myself,“You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’
• Luke 16:19 : 19 The Rich Man and Lazarus“There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
• Jas 4:13 : 13 Come now, you who say,“Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”
• Jas 5:1-5 : 1 Warning to the Rich Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure! 4 Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
• Ps 80:1-3 : 1 For the music director; according to the shushan-eduth style; a psalm of Asaph. O shepherd of Israel, pay attention, you who lead Joseph like a flock of sheep! You who sit enthroned above the cherubim, reveal your splendor! 2 In the sight of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh reveal your power! Come and deliver us! 3 O God, restore us! Smile on us! Then we will be delivered!
• Ps 21:6 : 6 For you grant him lasting blessings; you give him great joy by allowing him into your presence.
• Ps 39:6 : 6 Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”
• Ps 42:5 : 5 Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.
• Ps 44:3 : 3 For they did not conquer the land by their swords, and they did not prevail by their strength, but rather by your power, strength and good favor, for you were partial to them.
• Ps 49:16-20 : 16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and his wealth multiplies! 17 For he will take nothing with him when he dies; his wealth will not follow him down into the grave. 18 He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive:“May men praise you, for you have done well!” 19 But he will join his ancestors; they will never again see the light of day. 20 Wealthy people do not understand; they are like animals that perish.