86 Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

17 Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

David's prayer.

A prayer for help

86 Lord, please listen to me,
    and answer me!
I am weak and I need help.
I am your faithful servant,
    so keep my life safe!
Please save me, my God,
    for I trust in you.
My Lord, be kind to me.
All through the day,
    I am calling to you for help.
Please make me happy deep inside,
    for you are the one that I pray to, my Lord.
Yes, my Lord, you are very kind,
    and you are ready to forgive people.
When anyone calls to you for help,
    you love them with your faithful love.
Lord, hear my prayer!
    Please listen when I call to you for help.
Whenever trouble comes to me,
    I will pray to you.
I know that you will answer me.
There is no one like you, my Lord,
    among all the gods.
Nobody can do the great things that you do.
You have made all the nations of the world,
    and they will all come to worship you, my Lord.
They will agree that your name is great.
10 For you are great and you do great things.
    You alone are God.
11 Lord, teach me how I should live.
    Then I will obey your truth.
Teach me to serve you with all that I am,
    so that I respect you with fear.
12 My Lord and my God,
    I will thank you with all my strength.
I will praise your name for ever!
13 I know that you love me very much
    with your faithful love.
You will continue to keep my life safe,
    so that I do not go down into the deep hole of death.
14 God, proud people are attacking me.
Cruel men have joined together to kill me.
    They do not respect you at all.
15 But you, my Lord, are a kind God
    who forgives people.
You do not quickly become angry,
    and your faithful love is very great.
We can always trust you
    to do what you have promised.
16 Turn to me and be kind to me.
    I am your servant, so make me strong.
Please rescue your slave!
17 Help me, so that I know you are pleased with me.
Then my enemies will see it,
    and they will be ashamed.
They will know that you, Lord,
    have helped me and comforted me.

To You, O Lord, I Lift Up My Soul

A Prayer of David.

86 (A)Incline Your ear, O Yahweh, and answer me;
For I am (B)afflicted and needy.
(C)Keep my [a]soul, for I am a (D)holy one;
O You my God, save Your slave who (E)trusts in You.
Be (F)gracious to me, O Lord,
For (G)to You I call all day long.
Make glad the soul of Your slave,
For to You, O Lord, (H)I lift up my soul.
For You, Lord, are (I)good, and (J)by nature forgiving,
And (K)abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.
(L)Give ear, O Yahweh, to my prayer;
And give heed to the voice of my supplications!
In (M)the day of my distress I shall call upon You,
For (N)You will answer me.
There is (O)no one like You among the gods, O Lord,
Nor are there any works (P)like Yours.
(Q)All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord,
And they shall glorify Your name.
10 For You are (R)great and (S)do [b]wondrous deeds;
You alone (T)are God.

11 (U)Teach me Your way, O Yahweh;
I will walk in Your truth;
(V)Unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 I will (W)give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And will glorify Your name forever.
13 For Your lovingkindness toward me is great,
And You have (X)delivered my soul from Sheol below.

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

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 86:2 Or life
  2. Psalm 86:10 Or miracles
  3. Psalm 86:14 Or an assembly
  4. Psalm 86:14 Lit soul
  5. Psalm 86:15 Or faithfulness
  6. Psalm 86:17 Lit Do with