Psalm 86

Lament and Petition

A prayer of David.

Listen, Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.(A)
Protect my life, for I am faithful.(B)
You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.(C)
Be gracious to me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.(D)
Bring joy to your servant’s life,
because I appeal to you, Lord.(E)

For you, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive,(F)
abounding in faithful love to all who call on you.(G)
Lord, hear my prayer;
listen to my cries for mercy.(H)
I call on you in the day of my distress,
for you will answer me.(I)

Lord, there is no one like you among the gods,
and there are no works like yours.(J)
All the nations you have made
will come and bow down before you, Lord,
and will honor your name.(K)
10 For you are great and perform wonders;
you alone are God.(L)

11 Teach me your way, Lord,
and I will live by your truth.
Give me an undivided mind to fear your name.(M)
12 I will praise you with all my heart, Lord my God,
and will honor your name forever.(N)
13 For your faithful love for me is great,
and you rescue my life from the depths of Sheol.(O)

14 God, arrogant people have attacked me;
a gang of ruthless men intends to kill me.
They do not let you guide them.[a](P)
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.(Q)
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me.
Give your strength to your servant;
save the son of your female servant.(R)
17 Show me a sign of your goodness;
my enemies will see and be put to shame
because you, Lord, have helped and comforted me.(S)

Footnotes

  1. 86:14 Lit They do not set you in front of them

Pleading and Trust.

A Prayer of David.

86 (A)Incline Your ear, Lord, and answer me;
For I am (B)afflicted and needy.
(C)Protect my [a]soul, for I am (D)godly;
You my God, save Your servant who (E)trusts in You.
Be (F)gracious to me, Lord,
For (G)I call upon You all day long.
Make the soul of Your servant joyful,
For to You, Lord, (H)I lift up my soul.
For You, Lord, are (I)good, and (J)ready to forgive,
And (K)abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.
(L)Listen, Lord, to my prayer;
And give Your attention to the sound of my pleading!
On (M)the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For (N)You will answer me.
There is (O)no one like You among the gods, Lord,
Nor are there any works (P)like Yours.
(Q)All nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, Lord,
And they will glorify Your name.
10 For You are (R)great, and you (S)do [b]wondrous deeds;
You alone (T)are God.

11 (U)Teach me Your way, Lord;
I will walk in Your truth;
(V)Unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 I will (W)give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart,
And I will glorify Your name forever.
13 For Your graciousness toward me is great,
And You have (X)saved my soul from the [c]depths of [d]Sheol.

14 God, arrogant men have (Y)risen up against me,
And a gang of violent men have sought my [e]life,
And they have not set You before them.
15 But You, Lord, are a (Z)compassionate and gracious God,
Slow to anger and abundant in mercy and [f]truth.
16 (AA)Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
(AB)Grant Your strength to Your servant,
And save the (AC)son of Your maidservant.
17 (AD)Show me a sign of good,
That those who hate me may (AE)see it and be ashamed,
Because You, Lord, (AF)have helped me and comforted me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 86:2 Or life
  2. Psalm 86:10 Or miracles
  3. Psalm 86:13 Lit lowest Sheol
  4. Psalm 86:13 I.e., the netherworld
  5. Psalm 86:14 Lit soul
  6. Psalm 86:15 Or faithfulness