The Bible — World English Bible
Psalm 86
In brief
Psalm 86 is a prayer of David in distress. He presents himself to God as poor and dependent and asks him to listen and to bring him joy, because God is good, ready to forgive and full of love. He proclaims that no god is like the LORD and that the nations will come to worship him. He then asks to be taught and to have an undivided heart, and begs to be delivered from violent men, relying on God's merciful character.
The chapter in 4 parts
1Hear, Yahweh, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you.
3Be merciful to me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
4Bring joy to the soul of your servant, for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.
6Hear, Yahweh, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my petitions.
7In the day of my trouble I will call on you, for you will answer me.
8There is no one like you among the gods, Lord, nor any deeds like your deeds.
9All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name.
10For you are great, and do wondrous things. You are God alone.
11Teach me your way, Yahweh. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name.
12I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart. I will glorify your name forever more.
13For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.
14God, the proud have risen up against me. A company of violent men have sought after my soul, and they don’t hold regard for you before them.
15But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.
16Turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give your strength to your servant. Save the son of your servant.
17Show me a sign of your goodness, that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed, because you, Yahweh, have helped me, and comforted me.
Key verses
For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.
David bases his request on God's character: he is good, ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all who call on him.
There is no one like you among the gods, Lord, nor any deeds like your deeds. All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name. For you are great, and do wondrous things. You are God alone.
In the middle of his distress, David lifts his eyes to God's greatness. No other god is like him, and the nations will one day worship him.
Teach me your way, Yahweh. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name.
David does not only ask to be saved, but to be taught. An undivided heart is a heart whose desires are not scattered.
But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.
This verse echoes the way God introduced himself to Moses: merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness. It is the main support of David's prayer.
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Frequently asked questions about Psalm 86
What does Psalm 86 mean?
It is David's prayer in a time of trial. He acknowledges that he is poor and dependent, leans on God's kindness and forgiveness, recognizes his unique greatness and asks for an undivided heart. The psalm shows that we can pray honestly in distress, beginning by recalling who God is.
How can I pray or meditate on Psalm 86?
Take it as a model of prayer. Begin by telling God where you are, using the words of verses 1 to 4. Then remind him of what you know about him, with verses 5 and 15. Make verse 11 your request for the day: teach me your way and unite my heart. Finish by praising him, as in verse 12.
What does an undivided heart mean in Psalm 86:11?
Translations vary: undivided heart, united heart, whole heart. The idea is that loyalty to God is not split among several desires. David asks God himself to unify his heart so that he fears his name, because he knows he cannot do it alone.
Who wrote Psalm 86?
The title attributes it to David: it is a prayer of David. It is the only psalm of David in the third book of the Psalter. The text does not say in what circumstance it was written, it only speaks of violent enemies who want his life.
Articles quoting Psalm 86
World English Bible translation — public domain.