Psalm 86–87

A Cry for Help

A prayer of David.

86Lord, listen to me and answer me.

I am poor and helpless.

²Protect me, because I worship you.

My God, save me, your servant who trusts in you.

³Lord, have mercy on me,

because I have called to you all day.

⁴Give happiness to me, your servant,

because I give my life to you, Lord.

⁵Lord, you are kind and forgiving

and have great love for those who call to you.

⁶Lord, hear my prayer,

and listen when I ask for mercy.

⁷I call to you in times of trouble,

because you will answer me.

⁸Lord, there is no god like you

and no works like yours.

⁹Lord, all the nations you have made

will come and worship you.

They will honor you.

¹⁰You are great and you do miracles.

Only you are God.

¹¹Lord, teach me what you want me to do,

and I will live by your truth.

Teach me to respect you completely.

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

and I will honor your name forever.

¹³You have great love for me.

You have saved me from death.

¹⁴God, proud people are attacking me;

a gang of cruel people is trying to kill me.

They do not respect you.

¹⁵But, Lord, you are a God who shows mercy and is kind.

You don’t become angry quickly.

You have great love and faithfulness.

¹⁶Turn to me and have mercy.

Give me, your servant, strength.

Save me, the son of your female servant.

¹⁷Show me a sign of your goodness.

When my enemies look, they will be ashamed.

You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

God Loves Jerusalem

A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

87The Lord built Jerusalem on the holy mountain.

²He loves its gates more than any other place in Israel.

³City of God,

wonderful things are said about you.Selah

⁴God says, “I will put Egypt and Babylonia

on the list of nations that know me.

People from Philistia, Tyre, and Cush

will be born there.”

⁵They will say about Jerusalem,

“This one and that one were born there.

God Most High will strengthen her.”

⁶The Lord will keep a list of the nations.

He will note, “This person was born there.”

Selah

⁷They will dance and sing,

“All good things come from Jerusalem.”