Psalm 86–87

Psalm 86

LAMENT AND PETITION

A prayer of David.

¹Listen, Lord, and answer me,

for I am poor and needy.^ae

²Protect my life, for I am faithful.^af

You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.^ag

³Be gracious to me, Lord,

for I call to you all day long.^ah

⁴Bring joy to your servant’s life,

because I appeal to you, Lord.^a

⁵For you, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive,^b

abounding in faithful love to all who call on you.^c

⁶Lord, hear my prayer;

listen to my cries for mercy.^d

⁷I call on you in the day of my distress,

for you will answer me.^e

⁸Lord, there is no one like you among the gods,

and there are no works like yours.^f

⁹All the nations you have made

will come and bow down before you, Lord,

and will honor your name.^g

¹⁰For you are great and perform wonders;

you alone are God.^h

¹¹Teach me your way, Lord,

and I will live by your truth.

Give me an undivided mind to fear your name.ⁱ

¹²I will praise you with all my heart, Lord my God,

and will honor your name forever.^j

¹³For your faithful love for me is great,

and you rescue my life from the depths of Sheol.^k

¹⁴God, arrogant people have attacked me;

a gang of ruthless men intends to kill me.

They do not let you guide them.^Al

¹⁵But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.^m

¹⁶Turn to me and be gracious to me.

Give your strength to your servant;

save the son of your female servant.ⁿ

¹⁷Show me a sign of your goodness;

my enemies will see and be put to shame

because you, Lord, have helped and comforted me.^o

Psalm 87

ZION, THE CITY OF GOD

A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.

¹The city he founded^B is on the holy mountains.^p

²The Lord loves Zion’s city gates

more than all the dwellings of Jacob.^q

³Glorious things are said about you,

city of God.^r

Selah

⁴“I will make a record of those who know me:

Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush—

each one was born there.”^s

⁵And it will be said of Zion,

“This one and that one were born in her.”

The Most High himself will establish her.^t

⁶When he registers the peoples,

the Lord will record,

“This one was born there.”^u

Selah

⁷Singers and dancers^C alike will say,^D

“My whole source of joy is^E in you.”^v