Psalms 86

Teach me your way, O Lord

ear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.a ²Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; ³have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.

⁴Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. ⁵You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.b ⁶Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.

⁷When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.c ⁸Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.d ⁹All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.e

¹⁰For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.f ¹¹Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.g ¹²I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.h

¹³For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.i ¹⁴Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God; ruthless people are trying to kill me— they have no regard for you. ¹⁵But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.j

¹⁶Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.k ¹⁷Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.l

Commentary

Psalm 86 is a prayer of David, a blend of lament, petition, and praise. It stands out for its intense personal plea for deliverance, grounded not in the psalmist's merit but in God's character—His goodness, mercy, and steadfast love. The psalm moves from urgent cries for help to con

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Bible Dictionary· Psalms 86(4)

Cry Strength The Way Worship

References· Psalms 86

a: v.1 — Psalms 31:2, Psalms 40:17, Daniel 9:18, Matthew 5:3, Psalms 34:6, James 2:5, James 1:9-10, Luke 4:18, Psalms 102:17, Psalms 17:6
b: v.5 — Psalms 145:8-9, Joel 2:13, Exodus 34:6, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalms 103:8, Acts 2:21, Psalms 145:18, 1 John 4:8-9, Psalms 25:8, Ezekiel 36:37
c: v.7 — Jonah 2:2, Psalms 34:4-6, Psalms 50:15, Psalms 17:6, Hebrews 5:7, Isaiah 26:16, Lamentations 3:55-57, Psalms 142:1, Psalms 18:6, Psalms 91:15
d: v.8 — Exodus 15:11, Deuteronomy 3:24, Psalms 89:6, Daniel 3:29, Psalms 89:8, Isaiah 40:25, Jeremiah 10:16, Deuteronomy 4:34, Isaiah 40:18, Psalms 136:4
e: v.9 — All nations will come and worship: Revelation 15:4; Revelation 15:4, Isaiah 66:23, Psalms 66:4, Revelation 11:15, Isaiah 2:2-4, Psalms 102:15, Isaiah 59:19, Isaiah 43:7, Isaiah 11:9, Romans 15:9
f: v.10 — Isaiah 37:16, Mark 12:29, Psalms 72:18, 1 Corinthians 8:4, Deuteronomy 32:39, Exodus 15:11, Isaiah 37:20, Isaiah 44:6-8, Ephesians 4:6, Romans 15:18-19
g: v.11 — Jeremiah 32:38-39, Psalms 25:4-5, Psalms 5:8, Psalms 119:33, Psalms 143:8-10, Job 34:32, Psalms 25:12, Psalms 27:11, Psalms 26:3, 2 John 1:4
h: v.12 — Deuteronomy 6:5, Psalms 146:1-2, Romans 15:6, Revelation 19:5-6, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Isaiah 12:1, 1 Corinthians 6:20, Ephesians 5:19, Psalms 104:33, Proverbs 3:5-6
i: v.13 — Psalms 103:8-12, Luke 1:58, Psalms 56:13, Job 33:28, Psalms 116:8, Psalms 57:10, Psalms 16:10, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Psalms 30:3, Psalms 88:6
j: v.15 — Ephesians 2:4-7, Psalms 130:7, Ephesians 1:7, Psalms 103:8, Psalms 86:5, Psalms 145:8, Nehemiah 9:17, Joel 2:13, Psalms 85:10, Micah 7:18
k: v.16 — Ephesians 6:10, Philippians 4:13, Isaiah 40:29-31, Psalms 25:16, Psalms 116:16, Ephesians 3:16, Colossians 1:11, Psalms 138:3, Psalms 69:16, Psalms 90:13
l: v.17 — Psalms 41:10-11, Judges 6:17, Psalms 71:20-21, Micah 7:8-10, Psalms 71:9-13, Psalms 40:1, Psalms 109:29, 1 Corinthians 5:5, Isaiah 38:22, Psalms 74:9

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