Psalm 86

Lament and Petition

A Davidic prayer.

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 turn to You, Lord.(E)

For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive,(F)
rich in faithful love to all who call on You.(G)
Lord, hear my prayer;
listen to my plea 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, Yahweh,
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 deliver my life from the depths of Sheol.(O)

14 God, arrogant people have attacked me;
a gang of ruthless men seeks my life.
They have no regard for You.(P)
15 But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger and rich 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)

A Davidic prayer

Help Us, God

86 Lord, listen and answer me,
    for I am afflicted and needy.
Protect me, for I am faithful;[a]
    My God, deliver your servant who trusts in you.
Have mercy on me Lord,
    for I call on you all day long.
Your servant rejoices,
    because, Lord, I set my hope on[b] you.
Indeed you, Lord, are kind and forgiving,
    overflowing with gracious love to everyone who calls on you.

Hear my prayer, Lord;
    attend to my prayer of supplication.

In my troubled times I will call on you,
    for you will answer me.

No one can compare with you among the gods, Lord;
    No one can accomplish[c] your work.
All the nations that you have established will come
    and worship you, my Lord.
        They will honor your name.
10 For you are great,
    and you are doing awesome things;
        you alone are God.

11 Teach me your ways, Lord,
    that I may walk in your truth;
        let me wholeheartedly[d] revere your name.

12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole being;
    and I will honor your name continuously.
13 For great is your gracious love to me;
    you’ve delivered me from the depths of Sheol.[e]

14 God, arrogant men rise up against me,
    while a company of ruthless individuals want to kill me.
        They do not have regard for you.[f]
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate God,
    merciful and patient,[g]
        with unending gracious love and faithfulness.

16 Return to me and have mercy on me;
    clothe your servant with your strength
        and deliver the son of your maid servant.

17 Show me a sign of your goodness,
    so that those who hate me will see it and be ashamed.
        For you, Lord, will help and comfort me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 86:2 Or righteous
  2. Psalm 86:4 Or I lift my soul to
  3. Psalm 86:8 The Heb. lacks can accomplish
  4. Psalm 86:11 Lit. my heart be undivided
  5. Psalm 86:13 I.e. the realm of the dead
  6. Psalm 86:14 Lit. don’t set you before them
  7. Psalm 86:15 Or slow to anger