Psalms 86:4-13

4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for 1to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and 2forgiving, 3abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 4Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.
7 In 5the day of my trouble I call upon you, 6for you answer me.
8 There is 7none like you among the gods, O Lord, 8nor are there any works like yours.
9 9All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.
10 For 10you are great and 11do wondrous things; 12you alone are God.
11 13Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may 14walk in your truth; 15unite my heart to fear your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
13 16For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have 17delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Psalms 86:4-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 86

\\<>\\. The title is the same with the Seventeenth Psalm, and the subject of it is much alike: it was written by David, when in distress, and his life was sought after; very likely when he was persecuted by Saul, and fled from him; so Aben Ezra, Jarchi, and Kimchi: and as he was a type of Christ in his afflictions, as well as in his exalted state, it may not be unfitly applied to him, as it is by some interpreters. The Syriac inscription of it is, ``for David, when he built an house for the Lord; and a prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles; and moreover, a prayer of a peculiar righteous man.'' Theodoret thinks it predicts the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians, and Hezekiah's hope in God.

Cross References 17

  • 1. See Psalms 25:1
  • 2. Psalms 130:4
  • 3. ver. 15; Psalms 103:8; Psalms 145:8, 9; Exodus 34:6; Joel 2:13
  • 4. Psalms 55:1, 2
  • 5. See Psalms 77:2
  • 6. Psalms 17:6
  • 7. [Psalms 89:6; Exodus 15:11]
  • 8. Deuteronomy 3:24
  • 9. Psalms 66:4; [Psalms 22:31; Psalms 65:2; Isaiah 66:23; Zechariah 14:18; Revelation 15:4]
  • 10. Psalms 77:13
  • 11. See Psalms 72:18
  • 12. Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 37:16; Isaiah 44:6, 8; 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6
  • 13. See Psalms 25:4
  • 14. Psalms 26:3
  • 15. [Jeremiah 32:39]
  • 16. [ver. 5]
  • 17. Psalms 30:3; [Psalms 88:6; Ezekiel 26:20]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.