Psalms 86

86 ¹Bend down and hear me, my Father; answer me, for I am poor and needy.

²Guard my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you—you are my Father. ³Be gracious to me, my Sovereign Father, for I cry out to you all day long. ⁴Bring joy to your servant's soul, for I lift up my soul to you, my Sovereign Father.

⁵For you, my Sovereign Father, are good and forgiving, abounding in covenant love to all who call on you. ⁶Hear my prayer, my Father; listen to my pleas for mercy. ⁷When I'm in trouble, I call out to you, and you answer me.

⁸There is none like you among the gods, my Sovereign Father, and there are no works like yours. ⁹All the nations you have made will come and bow down before you, my Sovereign Father, and they will glorify your name. ¹⁰For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are my Father.

¹¹Teach me your way, my Father, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to fear your name. ¹²I will praise you, my Sovereign Father, with all my heart, and I will glorify your name forever. ¹³For great is your covenant love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of the grave. ^a a v13 Sheol is the Hebrew name for the realm of the dead, pictured as the deepest place imaginable.

¹⁴My Father, insolent men have risen against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they give no thought to you. ¹⁵But you, my Sovereign Father, are a compassionate and gracious Father, slow to anger and abounding in covenant love and faithfulness. ¹⁶Turn to me and be gracious to me; grant your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. ¹⁷Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be ashamed, for you, my Father, have helped me and comforted me.