1 <A Prayer. Of David.> Let your ears be open to my voice, O Lord, and give me an answer; for I am poor and in need.
2 Keep my soul, for I am true to you; O my God, give salvation to your servant, whose hope is in you.
3 Have mercy on me, O Lord; for my cry goes up to you all the day.
4 Make glad the soul of your servant; for it is lifted up to you, O Lord.
5 You are good, O Lord, and full of forgiveness; your mercy is great to all who make their cry to you.
6 O Lord, give ear to my prayer; and take note of the sound of my requests.
7 In the day of my trouble I send up my cry to you; for you will give me an answer.
8 There is no god like you, O Lord; there are no works like your works.
9 Let all the nations whom you have made come and give worship to you, O Lord, giving glory to your name.
10 For you are great, and do great works of wonder; you only are God.
11 Make your way clear to me, O Lord; I will go on my way in your faith: let my heart be glad in the fear of your name.
12 I will give you praise, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will give glory to your name for ever.
13 For your mercy to me is great; you have taken my soul up from the deep places of the underworld.
14 O God, men of pride have come up against me, and the army of violent men would take my life; they have not put you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God full of pity and forgiveness, slow to get angry, great in mercy and wisdom.
16 O be turned to me and have mercy on me: give your strength to your servant, and your salvation to the son of her who is your servant.
17 Give me a sign for good; so that my haters may see it and be shamed; because you, Lord, have been my help and comfort.
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.