1 > Hear, Yahweh, and answer me, For I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you.
3 Be merciful to me, Lord, For I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to the soul of your servant, For to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; Abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.
6 Hear, Yahweh, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my petitions.
7 In the day of my trouble I will call on you, For you will answer me.
8 There is no one like you among the gods, Lord, Nor any deeds like your deeds.
9 All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great, and do wondrous things. You are God alone.
11 Teach me your way, Yahweh. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart. I will glorify your name forevermore.
13 For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.
14 God, the proud have risen up against me. A company of violent men have sought after my soul, And they don't hold regard for you before them.
15 But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, Slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.
16 Turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give your strength to your servant. Save the son of your handmaid.
17 Show me a sign of your goodness, That those who hate me may see it, and be shamed, Because you, Yahweh, have helped me, and comforted me.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 86
Commentary on Psalms 86 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 86
Ps 86:1-17. This is a prayer in which the writer, with deep emotion, mingles petitions and praises, now urgent for help, and now elated with hope, in view of former mercies. The occurrence of many terms and phrases peculiar to David's Psalms clearly intimates its authorship.
1, 2. poor and needy—a suffering child of God, as in Ps 10:12, 17; 18:27.
I am holy—or, "godly," as in Ps 4:3; 85:8.
4. lift up my soul—with strong desire (Ps 25:1).
5-7. unto all … that call upon thee—or, "worship Thee" (Ps 50:15; 91:15) however undeserving (Ex 34:6; Le 11:9-13).
8. neither … works—literally, "nothing like thy works," the "gods" have none at all.
9, 10. The pious Jews believed that God's common relation to all would be ultimately acknowledged by all men (Ps 45:12-16; 47:9).
11. Teach—Show, point out.
the way—of Providence.
walk in thy truth—according to its declarations.
unite my heart—fix all my affections (Ps 12:2; Jas 4:8).
to fear thy name—(compare Ps 86:12) to honor Thy perfections.
13, 14. The reason: God had delivered him from death and the power of insolent, violent, and godless persecutors (Ps 54:3; Eze 8:12).
15. Contrasts God with his enemies (compare Ps 86:5).
16. son … handmaid—homeborn servant (compare Lu 15:17).
17. Show me—literally, "Make with me a token," by Thy providential care. Thus in and by his prosperity his enemies would be confounded.