Psalm 86

A David Psalm

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.

Psalm 86

1 Bow down thine ear, O Jehovah, and answer me; For I am poor and needy.

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

3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord; For unto thee do I cry all the day long.

4 Rejoice the soul of thy servant; For unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness unto all them that call upon thee.

6 Give ear, O Jehovah, unto my prayer; And hearken unto the voice of my supplications.

7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee; For thou wilt answer me.

8 There is none like unto thee among the gods, O Lord; Neither are there any works like unto thy works.

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

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

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

12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart; And I will glorify thy name for evermore.

13 For great is thy lovingkindness toward me; And thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.

14 O God, the proud are risen up against me, And a company of violent men have sought after my soul, And have not set thee before them.

15 But thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.

16 Oh turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; Give thy strength unto thy servant, And save the son of thy handmaid.

17 Show me a token for good, That they who hate me may see it, and be put to shame, Because thou, Jehovah, hast helped me, and comforted me.