Psalm 86
English Standard Version
Great Is Your Steadfast Love
(A)A Prayer of David.
86 (B)Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am (C)poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am (D)godly;
save your servant, who (E)trusts in you—you are my God.
3 (F)Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,
for (G)to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and (H)forgiving,
(I)abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 (J)Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
7 In (K)the day of my trouble I call upon you,
(L)for you answer me.
8 There is (M)none like you among the gods, O Lord,
(N)nor are there any works like yours.
9 (O)All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
10 For (P)you are great and (Q)do wondrous things;
(R)you alone are God.
11 (S)Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may (T)walk in your truth;
(U)unite my heart to fear your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
13 (V)For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have (W)delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
14 O God, insolent men have (X)risen up against me;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God (Y)merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 (Z)Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to (AA)your servant,
and save (AB)the son of your maidservant.
17 (AC)Show me a sign of your (AD)favor,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Psalm 86
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Psalm 86[a]
Prayer in Time of Distress
1 A prayer of David.
I
Incline your ear, Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and oppressed.
2 Preserve my life, for I am devoted;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 be gracious to me, Lord;
to you I call all the day.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant;
to you, Lord, I lift up my soul.(A)
5 Lord, you are good and forgiving,
most merciful to all who call on you.(B)
6 Lord, hear my prayer;
listen to my cry for help.(C)
7 On the day of my distress I call to you,
for you will answer me.
II
8 None among the gods can equal you, O Lord;
nor can their deeds compare to yours.(D)
9 All the nations you have made shall come
to bow before you, Lord,
and give honor to your name.(E)
10 For you are great and do wondrous deeds;
and you alone are God.
III
11 Teach me, Lord, your way
that I may walk in your truth,(F)
single-hearted and revering your name.
12 I will praise you with all my heart,
glorify your name forever, Lord my God.
13 Your mercy to me is great;
you have rescued me from the depths of Sheol.(G)
14 O God, the arrogant have risen against me;
a ruthless band has sought my life;
to you they pay no heed.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in mercy and truth.(H)
16 Turn to me, be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant;
save the son of your handmaid.(I)
17 Give me a sign of your favor:
make my enemies see, to their confusion,
that you, Lord, help and comfort me.
Psalm 86
The Message
86 1-7 Bend an ear, God; answer me.
I’m one miserable wretch!
Keep me safe—haven’t I lived a good life?
Help your servant—I’m depending on you!
You’re my God; have mercy on me.
I count on you from morning to night.
Give your servant a happy life;
I put myself in your hands!
You’re well-known as good and forgiving,
bighearted to all who ask for help.
Pay attention, God, to my prayer;
bend down and listen to my cry for help.
Every time I’m in trouble I call on you,
confident that you’ll answer.
8-10 There’s no one quite like you among the gods, O Lord,
and nothing to compare with your works.
All the nations you made are on their way,
ready to give honor to you, O Lord,
Ready to put your beauty on display,
parading your greatness,
And the great things you do—
God, you’re the one, there’s no one but you!
11-17 Train me, God, to walk straight;
then I’ll follow your true path.
Put me together, one heart and mind;
then, undivided, I’ll worship in joyful fear.
From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord;
I’ve never kept secret what you’re up to.
You’ve always been great toward me—what love!
You snatched me from the brink of disaster!
God, these bullies have reared their heads!
A gang of thugs is after me—
and they don’t care a thing about you.
But you, O God, are both tender and kind,
not easily angered, immense in love,
and you never, never quit.
So look me in the eye and show kindness,
give your servant the strength to go on,
save your dear, dear child!
Make a show of how much you love me
so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed,
As you, God, gently and powerfully
put me back on my feet.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson