The Lord Will

Psalms 86

Old Testament · King James Version

Psalm 86 moves from urgent petition to praise and back to petition. David asks God to hear and preserve him, confesses God’s goodness and forgiving love, declares that all nations will worship the incomparable Lord, asks to be taught God’s way and given an undivided heart, and seeks strength and a sign of favor amid opposition.

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

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

12

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

13

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

14

O 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.

15

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

16

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

17

Shew 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.

Context

A prayer attributed to David. Its repeated appeals to God’s mercy and character center dependence, worship, and moral formation. Hostile opponents are not grounds for dehumanization, and requests for signs or rescue are not guarantees of immediate success or immunity from suffering.

Themes & application

  • Prayer
  • Mercy
  • Undivided heart
  • Worship
  • Deliverance
  • Compassion

Bring need honestly to God, seek an undivided heart, and anchor prayer in God’s character without turning faith into a technique for guaranteed outcomes.

Key verses

Psalm 86:5

God is good, forgiving, and rich in steadfast love.

Psalm 86:9

All nations are envisioned worshiping and glorifying God.

Psalm 86:11

The prayer asks for God’s way, truth, and an undivided heart.

Psalm 86:15

God is compassionate, gracious, patient, and faithful.

Common misreadings of Psalms 86

Misreading: Psalm 86 guarantees immediate rescue whenever it is prayed.

In context: It models trusting petition, not a timetable or technique that controls God’s response.

Misreading: The hostile opponents justify hatred or dehumanization.

In context: The psalm entrusts danger to God and grounds hope in God’s compassionate character.

Cross-references

  • Exodus 34:6Background for the description of God’s compassionate and gracious character in verse 15.

Frequently asked questions about Psalms 86

What does an undivided heart mean in Psalm 86:11?
It is a prayer for integrated loyalty to God: learning his way, walking in truth, and fearing his name without divided allegiance.

Sources & editorial notes

Translation
Commentary anchored in the public-domain Psalm 86 text used by the site (en).
Authorship
The heading identifies this as a prayer of David.
Editorial process
Synthesis checked against four literary movements and safeguards around suffering, opponents, signs, nations, and guaranteed-outcome readings.

References

  • Psalm 86Primary text and structure.

Author: The Lord Will Editorial Team · Reviewed by: Ugo Candido · Updated: 2026-08-20