Psalm 86-87

New International Version

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

¹Hear me, Lord, and answer^(A) me,
    for I am poor and needy.
²Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
    save your servant who trusts in you.^(B)
You are my God; ³have mercy^(C) on me, Lord,
    for I call^(D) to you all day long.
⁴Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
    for I put my trust^(E) in you.

⁵You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
    abounding in love^(F) to all who call to you.
⁶Hear my prayer, Lord;
    listen to my cry^(G) for mercy.
⁷When I am in distress,^(H) I call^(I) to you,
    because you answer^(J) me.

⁸Among the gods^(K) there is none like you,^(L) Lord;
    no deeds can compare with yours.
⁹All the nations you have made
    will come^(M) and worship^(N) before you, Lord;
    they will bring glory^(O) to your name.
¹⁰For you are great^(P) and do marvelous deeds;^(Q)
    you alone^(R) are God.

¹¹Teach me your way,^(S) Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;^(T)
give me an undivided^(U) heart,
    that I may fear^(V) your name.
¹²I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;^(W)
    I will glorify your name forever.
¹³For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me^(X) from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.^(Y)

¹⁴Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
    ruthless people are trying to kill me—
    they have no regard for you.^(Z)
¹⁵But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious^(AA) God,
    slow to anger,^(AB) abounding^(AC) in love and faithfulness.^(AD)
¹⁶Turn to me^(AE) and have mercy^(AF) on me;
    show your strength^(AG) in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
    just as my mother did.^(AH)
¹⁷Give me a sign^(AI) of your goodness,
    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
    for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Psalm 87

Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.

¹He has founded his city on the holy mountain.^(AJ)
²The Lord loves the gates of Zion^(AK)
more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.

³Glorious things are said of you,
    city of God:^[a]^(AL)
⁴“I will record Rahab^[b]^(AM) and Babylon
    among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia^(AN) too, and Tyre^(AO), along with Cush^[c]—
    and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”^[d]^(AP)
⁵Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
    “This one and that one were born in her,
    and the Most High himself will establish her.”
⁶The Lord will write in the register^(AQ) of the peoples:
    “This one was born in Zion.”

⁷As they make music^(AR) they will sing,
“All my fountains^(AS) are in you.”

Footnotes

Psalm 87:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
Psalm 87:4 A poetic name for Egypt
Psalm 87:4 That is, the upper Nile region
Psalm 87:4 Or “I will record concerning those who acknowledge me: / ‘This one was born in Zion.’ / Hear this, Rahab and Babylon, / and you too, Philistia, Tyre and Cush.”