Psalms 86

Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

1Lean close and listen to me, LORD. I am poor and I need help.

2Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

2Keep me safe, because I try to live your way. You are my God. Save me, for I trust you.

NoteThe KJV says "I am holy." That does not mean the writer is claiming to be perfect. It means he belongs to God and tries to live God's way.

3Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

3Be kind to me, Lord. I call to you all day long.

4Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

4Make your servant glad. I lift my heart up to you, Lord.

5For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

5Lord, you are good and ready to forgive. You love everyone who calls to you.

6Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

6Listen to my prayer, LORD. Pay attention when I beg you for help.

7In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

7When I am in trouble, I call to you. I know you will answer me.

8Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

8No god anywhere is like you, Lord. Nobody does the things you do.

9All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

9You made all the nations. One day they will all come and bow to you. They will honor your name.

10For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

10You are great, and you do amazing things. You alone are God.

11Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

11Teach me your way, LORD, so I can live by your truth. Make my whole heart want to honor you.

12I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

12I will thank you, Lord my God, with all my heart. I will honor your name forever.

13For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

13Your love for me is very great. You pulled me back from the deepest grave.

Note"The lowest hell" here means the deepest part of the grave, the place of the dead. The writer is saying God saved him from dying.

14O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

14God, proud men have turned against me. A gang of cruel men wants to kill me. They do not care about you at all.

15But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

15But you, Lord, are a God full of pity and kindness. You are slow to get angry. You are full of love, and you always keep your word.

Note"Long suffering" is old English for patient, or slow to get angry.

16O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

16Turn to me and be kind to me. Give your strength to me, your servant. I have served you since I was born. Please save me.

Note"The son of thine handmaid" means the child of a woman who served God. The writer is saying his family has belonged to God his whole life.

17Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

17Show me a sign that you are good to me. Then the people who hate me will see it and feel ashamed. They will know that you, LORD, helped me and made me feel better.