The true measure of God’s love is that He loves without measure. Bernard of Clairvaux

上帝的爱长阔高深，永远无法测度。

Know that the  has set apart his faithful servant for himself. Psalm 4:3

你们要知道，耶和华已经分别虔诚人归祂自己。-诗篇4篇3节

It’s almost impossible for us to get through a day without being snubbed, ignored, or put down in some way. Sometimes we even do it to ourselves.

想要在一天的生活中完全不被人冷落、漠视或贬低，几乎是不可能的。有时，我们甚至也会贬低自己。

David’s enemies were talking smack—bullying, threatening, pummeling him with insults. His sense of self-worth and well-being had plummeted (Ps. 4:1–2). He asked for relief “from my distress.”

大卫的仇敌以羞辱的言辞，欺凌、恐吓和嘲讽大卫，打击他的自尊和自信，使他灰心沮丧（诗篇4篇1-2节），所以大卫恳求上帝将他从困苦中拯救出来。

Then David remembered, “Know that the  has set apart his faithful servant for himself” (v. 3). Various English versions try to capture the full essence of David’s bold statement by translating “faithful servant” as “godly.” The Hebrew word here, hesed, literally refers to God’s covenant love and might well be rendered “those whom God will love forever and ever and ever.”

接着，大卫想起：“耶和华已经分别虔诚人归祂自己”（3节）。在这节经文中翻译为“虔诚人”的希伯来原文，按字面的意思来说，是指上帝立约的爱，所以“虔诚人”也可翻译为“那些上帝会永永远远爱着的人”。

Here’s what we too must remember: We are loved forever, set apart in a special way, as dear to God as His own Son. He has called us to be His children for all eternity.

我们也必须铭记：上帝永远爱着我们，祂以特别的方式将我们分别出来，视我们如同祂的爱子般宝贵，祂召我们永远作祂的儿女。

Instead of despairing, we can remind ourselves of the love we freely receive from our Father. We are His dearly beloved children. The end is not despair but peace and joy (vv. 7–8). He never gives up on us, and He never ever stops loving us.

在失望沮丧时，我们可以提醒自己，我们已经白白领受从天父而来的爱，我们是祂挚爱的孩子，人生的终点并非绝望无奈，而是平安喜乐（7-8节）。上帝从不放弃我们，而且祂从未停止对你、对我的爱。

Father in heaven, the words of others can wound us deeply. Your words to us heal and comfort, and You assure us that we are loved forever.

阿爸天父，世人的言语会深深地刺伤我们。

然而，祢的话语为我们带来医治和安慰，
而且祢应允我们，永远必蒙祢眷爱。

Psalm 4

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

1 Answer me when I call to you,
    my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
    have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
    How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.

4 Tremble and[d] do not sin;
    when you are on your beds,
    search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
    and trust in the Lord.

6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
    Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy
    when their grain and new wine abound.

8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.

整理：于姊妹