Psalm 86
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 86
Supplication for Help against Enemies
A Prayer of David.
1 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.(A)
2 Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God;(B) 3 be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all day long.(C)
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.(D)
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.(E)
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my cry of supplication.(F)
7 In the day of my trouble I call on you,
for you will answer me.(G)
8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.(H)
9 All the nations you have made shall come
and bow down before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.(I)
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.(J)
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart to revere your name.(K)
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.(L)
14 O God, the insolent rise up against me;
a band of ruffians seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.(M)
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.(N)
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant;
save the child of your maidservant.(O)
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.(P)
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.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson