Psalm 86
Guard My Life
A prayer by David.
David's Need and David's Faith
1Turn your ear, O Lord.
Answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2Guard my life, for I am favored by you.[] You are my God.
Save your servant, who trusts in you.
3Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
4Bring joy to the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
God's Grace
5Indeed, you, Lord, are good and forgiving
and abounding in mercy to all who call to you.
6Give ear to my prayer, O Lord.
Pay attention to the sound of my cries for mercy.
God's Ruling Power
7In the day of my distress I will call to you,
because you will answer me.
8There is no one like you among the gods, O Lord.
There are no deeds like your deeds.
9All the nations you have made will come.
They will bow before you, O Lord,
and they will give glory to your name,
10because you are great and do marvelous deeds.
You alone are God.
God's Praise
11Teach me your way, O Lord.
I will walk in your truth.
Give me wholehearted commitment to fear your name.
12I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
13For great is your mercy toward me,
and you have delivered my soul from “the lowest hell.”[] The Plea Repeated
14God, the arrogant rise against me.
A mob of ruthless men seeks my life.
They pay no attention to you.
15But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in mercy and faithfulness.
16Turn to me and have mercy on me.
Give your strength to your servant.
Save the son of your maidservant.
17Give a sign of your goodness for me.
Then those who hate me will see it and be put to shame,
because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.