Psalms 86

Teach me your way, O Lord

end down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.a ²Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God. ³Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly.

⁴Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you. ⁵O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.b ⁶Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry.

⁷I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.c ⁸No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do!d ⁹All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name.e

¹⁰For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God.f ¹¹Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.g ¹²With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever,h ¹³for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death.i

¹⁴O God, insolent people rise up against me; a violent gang is trying to kill me. You mean nothing to them. ¹⁵But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.j ¹⁶Look down and have mercy on me. Give your strength to your servant; save me, the son of your servant.k

¹⁷Send me a sign of your favor. Then those who hate me will be put to shame, for you, O Lord, help and comfort 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(5)

Bow Cry Honor Strength The Way

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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