the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
Click here to learn more!
Read the Bible
King James Version
Psalms 4:6
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalDevotionals:
- DailyParallel Translations
Many are saying, "Who will show us good?"Lift up the light of Your face upon us, O Yahweh!
Many are saying, "Who will show us any good?" Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord !
There be many that say, who wyll shewe vs [any] good? O God lift thou vp the light of thy countenaunce vpon vs.
Many say, Who shall cause us to see good? Lift up upon us the light of thy countenance, O Jehovah.
There are many who say, "Who will show us any good?" LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
Many are saying, Who will make us see any good? O Jehovah, lift up the light of Your face on us.
Many people say, "I wish I could enjoy the good life. Lord , give us some of those blessings."
Many say, "Who will show us any good?" Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us.
There be many that say, Who wil shew vs any good? Lord lift thou vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs.
There be many yt saye: who wil do vs eny good? where as thou (o LORDE) hast shewed vs the light of yi countenauce.
Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more," they say. "More, more." I have God's more-than-enough, More joy in one ordinary day Than they get in all their shopping sprees. At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep, For you, God , have put my life back together.
Many there are that say, Who will show us any good? Jehovah, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
There are numbers who say, Who will do us any good? the light of his face has gone from us.
Many there are that say, Who will show us [any] good? Yahweh, lift up the light of your countenance on us.
[There are] many that say, Who will show us [any] good? LORD, lift thou upon us the light of thy countenance.
Many say, "Who can show us anything good?" Smile upon us, Lord !
There are some who ask, "Who will be good to us?" Let your kindness, Lord , shine brightly on us.
Offer sacrifices rightly, and put your trust in Adonai .
Many say, Who will shewe vs any good? but Lorde, lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs.
There are many that say, Who can show us a good man so that he may shine upon us the light of his countenance?
Many are saying, "Oh, that we might see some good!" Lift up the light of Your face upon us, O LORD.
Many say, "Who will show us any good?" LORD, let the light of your face shine on us.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
Many people say, "Who will show us better times?" Let your face smile on us, Lord .
Many are asking, "Who will show us any good?" Let the light of Your face shine on us, O Lord.
Many say, Who will shew us good things? the light of thy countenance, O Lord, has been manifested towards us.
Many there be that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
Many ask, "Who can show us the good?" Shine the light of Your face upon us, O LORD.
There are many who say, "O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord !"
Multitudes, are saying, Who will show us prosperity? Lift thou upon us the light of thy countenance, O Yahweh.
(4-7) The light of thy countenance, O Lord, is signed upon us: thou hast given gladness in my heart.
Many are saying, "Who will show us something good?" Lift up over us the light of your face, O Yahweh.
There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord !"
Many are saying, "Who will show us anything good?" Lift up the light of Your face upon us, LORD!
Many people ask, "Who will give us anything good?" Lord , be kind to us.
There are many who pray: "Give us more blessings, O Lord . Look on us with kindness!"
Many are saying, "Who can show us anything good?" Look on us with favor, Lord .
Lord, the liyt of thi cheer is markid on vs; thou hast youe gladnesse in myn herte.
Many are saying, `Who doth show us good?' Lift on us the light of Thy face, O Jehovah,
There are many who say, "O that we might see some good! Lift up the light of thy countenance upon us, O LORD!"
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
many: Psalms 39:6, Psalms 49:16-20, Ecclesiastes 2:3-26, Isaiah 55:2, Luke 12:19, Luke 16:19, James 4:13, James 5:1-5
lift: Psalms 21:6, Psalms 42:5, Psalms 44:3, Psalms 67:1, Psalms 80:1-3, Psalms 80:7, Psalms 80:19, Psalms 89:15, Psalms 119:135, Numbers 6:26
Reciprocal: Genesis 17:18 - before Exodus 33:15 - General Exodus 33:18 - General 2 Samuel 22:29 - lighten 1 Kings 3:11 - hast not 1 Chronicles 16:11 - seek his Job 22:17 - and what Job 29:3 - by his light Job 29:24 - the light Job 33:26 - and he shall Psalms 17:15 - I will Psalms 31:16 - Make Psalms 34:12 - that he Psalms 61:3 - thou Psalms 63:3 - Because Psalms 80:3 - cause Psalms 119:58 - I entreated Proverbs 16:15 - the light Ecclesiastes 5:20 - because Ecclesiastes 6:6 - yet Ecclesiastes 6:12 - who knoweth Song of Solomon 2:5 - Stay Song of Solomon 5:13 - as a Daniel 9:17 - cause Matthew 5:6 - for Matthew 13:45 - seeking Matthew 17:4 - it is Luke 9:33 - it is John 4:15 - give John 6:34 - evermore Acts 2:28 - make Philippians 3:19 - who Revelation 22:4 - they
Cross-References
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord .
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord .
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
And Cain said unto the Lord , My punishment is greater than I can bear.
For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Thus saith the Lord , What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
Gill's Notes on the 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 contentment in it; to whom the psalmist opposes his wish and request, in the following words. Or these are the words of the men that were along with David, wishing themselves at home and in their families, enjoying the good things of life they before had; or rather these are the words of the same many, the enemies of David, spoken of in Psalms 3:1; who were wishing, as Kimchi observes, that Absalom's rebellion might prosper; that David might die and his son reign in his stead, so the evil they wished to him was good to them: or they may be the words of the same men, expressing the desperate condition that David and his friends were in, which the psalmist represents in this manner, "who will show us any good?" none, say they, will show them any good, neither God nor man; there is no help for him in God; he and his friends must unavoidably perish: and this produces the following petition,
Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us; meaning his gracious presence, the manifestations of himself, the discoveries of his love, communion with him, the comforts of his Spirit, and the joys of his salvation; suggesting that in the enjoyment of these things lay their good and happiness, and their safety also; his face and favour, love and grace, being as a shield to encompass them, and as a banner over them, Psalms 5:12; and so Jarchi observes, that the word here used signifies to lift up for a banner r; so, me respect seems to be had to the form of the priests blessing, Numbers 6:24; and the words are opposed to the good desired by carnal men, and express the true happiness of the saints, Psalms 89:15; this is a blessing wished for not only by David, but by his antitype the Messiah, Matthew 27:46; and by all believers.
r So Gussetius, Ebr. Comment. p. 515, 518.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
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 misfortunes, as if they were poor and forsaken, and knew not from from where the supply of their wants would come. The more probable interpretation, however, is that the allusion is to the general anxiety of mankind, as contrasted with the feelings and desires of the psalmist himself in reference to the manner in which the desire was to be gratified. That is, the general inquiry among mankind is, who will show us good? Or, where shall we obtain that which seems to us to be good, or which will promote our happiness?
Who will show us any good? - The word “any” here is improperly supplied by the translators. The question is more emphatic as it is in the original - “Who will show us good?” That is, Where shall happiness be found? In what does it consist? How is it to be obtained? What will contribute to it? This is the “general” question asked by mankind. The “answer” to this question, of course, would be very various, and the psalmist evidently intends to place the answer which “he” would give in strong contrast with that which would be given by the mass of men. Some would place it in wealth; some in honor; some in palaces and pleasure grounds; some in gross sensual pleasure; some in literature; and some in refined social enjoyments. In contrast with all such views of the sources of true happiness, the psalmist says that he regards it as consisting in the favor and friendship of God. To him that was enough; and in this respect his views stood in strong contrast with those of the world around him. The “connection” here seems to be this - the psalmist saw those persons who were arrayed against him intent on their own selfish aims, prosecuting their purposes, regardless of the honor of God and the rights of other men; and he is led to make the reflection that this is the “general” character of mankind. They are seeking for happiness; they are actively employed in prosecuting their own selfish ends and purposes. They live simply to know how they shall be “happy,” and they prosecute any scheme which would seem to promise happiness, regardless of the rights of others and the claims of religion.
Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us - That is, in contrast with the feelings and plans of others. In the pursuit of what “they” regarded as good they were engaged in purposes of gain, of pleasure, or of ambition; he, on the contrary, asked only the favor of God - the light of the divine countenance. The phrase, “to lift up the light of the countenance” on one, is of frequent occurrence in the Scriptures, and is expressive of favor and friendship. When we are angry or displeased, the face seems covered with a dark cloud; when pleased, it brightens up and expresses benignity. There is undoubtedly allusion in this expression to the sun as it rises free from clouds and tempests, seeming to smile upon the world. The language here was not improbably derived from the benediction which the high priest was commanded to pronounce when he blessed the people of Israel Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” It may be added here, that what the psalmist regarded as the “supreme good” - the favor and friendship of God - is expressive of true piety in all ages and at all times. While the world is busy in seeking happiness in other things - in wealth, pleasure, gaiety, ambition, sensual delights - the child of God feels that true happiness is to be found only in religion, and in the service and friendship of the Creator; and, after all the anxious inquiries which men make, and the various experiments tried in succeeding ages, to find the source of true happiness, all who ever find it will be led to seek it where the psalmist said his happiness was found - in the light of the countenance of God.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
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 the text, placing the principal emphasis on this illegitimate word.
The place is sufficiently emphatic without this. There are multitudes who say, Who will show us good? Man wants good; he hates evil as evil, because he has pain, suffering, and death through it; and he wishes to find that supreme good which will content his heart, and save him from evil. But men mistake this good. They look for a good that is to gratify their passions; they have no notion of any happiness that does not come to them through the medium of their senses. Therefore they reject spiritual good, and they reject the Supreme God, by whom alone all the powers of the soul of man can be gratified.
Lift thou up the light of thy countenance — This alone, the light of thy countenance - thy peace and approbation, constitute the supreme good. This is what we want, wish, and pray for. The first is the wish of the worldling, the latter the wish of the godly.
