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A Cry for Help

A prayer of David.

86 Lord, listen to me and answer me.
    I am poor and helpless.
Protect me, because I worship you.
    My God, save me, your servant.
    I trust in you.
Lord, be merciful to me.
    I have called to you all day.
Give happiness to me, your servant.
    Lord, I give my life to you.
Lord, you are kind and forgiving.
    You have great love for those who call to you.
Lord, hear my prayer.
    Listen when I ask for mercy.
I call to you in times of trouble.
    You certainly will answer me.

Lord, there is no god like you.
    There are no works like yours.
Lord, all the nations you have made
    will come and worship you.
    They will honor you.
10 You are great, and you do miracles.
    Only you are God.
11 Lord, teach me what you want me to do.
    And I will live by your truth.
Teach me to respect you completely.
12 Lord, my God, I will praise you with all my heart.
    I will honor your name forever.
13 You have great love for me.
    You have saved me from death.

14 God, proud men turn against me.
    A gang of cruel men are trying to kill me.
    They do not respect you.
15 But Lord, you are a God who shows mercy and is kind.
    You don’t become angry quickly.
    You have great love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be merciful.
    Give me, your servant, strength.
    Save me, the son of your female servant.
17 Show me a sign of your goodness.
    When my enemies look, they will be ashamed.
    You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Prayer for Mercy, with Meditation on the Excellencies of the Lord

A Prayer of David.

86 Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me;
For I am poor and needy.
Preserve my [a]life, for I am holy;
You are my God;
Save Your servant who trusts in You!
Be merciful to me, O Lord,
For I cry to You all day long.
[b]Rejoice the soul of Your servant,
(A)For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For (B)You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
And attend to the voice of my supplications.
In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For You will answer me.

(C)Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord;
Nor are there any works like Your works.
All nations whom You have made
Shall come and worship before You, O Lord,
And shall glorify Your name.
10 For You are great, and (D)do wondrous things;
(E)You alone are God.

11 (F)Teach me Your way, O Lord;
I will walk in Your truth;
[c]Unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And I will glorify Your name forevermore.
13 For great is Your mercy toward me,
And You have delivered my soul from the depths of [d]Sheol.

14 O God, the proud have risen against me,
And a mob of violent men have sought my life,
And have not set You before them.
15 But (G)You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

16 Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!
Give Your strength to Your servant,
And save the son of Your maidservant.
17 Show me a sign for good,
That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 86:2 Lit. soul
  2. Psalm 86:4 Make glad
  3. Psalm 86:11 Give me singleness of heart
  4. Psalm 86:13 The abode of the dead

Psalm 86

Supplication for Help against Enemies

A Prayer of David.

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;
    save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; be gracious to me, O Lord,
    for to you do I cry all day long.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
    for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
    abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
    listen to my cry of supplication.
In the day of my trouble I call on you,
    for you will answer me.

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
    nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
    and bow down before you, O Lord,
    and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;
    you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
    that I may walk in your truth;
    give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
    and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
    you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14 O God, the insolent rise up against me;
    a band of ruffians seeks my life,
    and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;
    give your strength to your servant;
    save the child of your serving girl.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
    so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,
    because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.