Psalm 86

A Prayer for Help against Ruthless Men

86A prayer of David.^a

¹Incline, O Yahweh, your ear and answer me,

because I am poor and needy.

²Watch over my life because I am faithful.

You are my God; save your servant.

I am the one who trusts you.

³Be gracious to me, O Lord,

because I call to you all day long.^b

⁴Make glad the soul of your servant,

because I desire you,^c O Lord.

⁵For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,

and abundant in loyal love^d for all who call to you.

⁶Heed, O Yahweh, my prayer,

and attend to the voice of my supplications.

⁷In the day of my trouble I call to you,

because you answer me.

⁸There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,

and there are no works like yours.

⁹All the nations that you have made will come

and bow down^e before you, O Lord,

and glorify your name.

¹⁰For you are great and doing wondrous things;

you alone are God.

¹¹Teach me, O Yahweh, your way,

that I may walk in your truth.

Unite my heart^f to fear your name.

¹²I will give you thanks, O Lord my God, with all my heart,

and glorify your name forever,

¹³because your loyal love is great toward me,

and you will have delivered my life from Sheol^g below.

¹⁴O God, arrogant men have risen up against me,

even a gang of ruthless men seek my life,

but they do not set you before them.^h

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

slow to angerⁱ and abundant in loyal love and faithfulness.

¹⁶Turn to me and be gracious to me.

Give your strength to your servant,

and grant victory to the son^j of your maidservant.

¹⁷Do a sign that benefits me,

that those who hate me may see and be put to shame,

because you, O Yahweh, have helped me and comforted me.