Psalm 86:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

NIV: A prayer of David. Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

NASB: Incline Your ear, Lord, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy.

CSB: A prayer of David. Listen, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

NLT: Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.

KJV: A Prayer of David. Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

NKJV: {A Prayer of David.} Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; For I am poor and needy.

Psalm 86:1–7 opens a prayer which seems to combine parts of David's psalms and quotations from the books of Moses. This calls out to God for help in a time of trouble. The psalmist repeatedly mentions the Lord's forgiving, loving nature. The second section of the prayer praises God for His uniqueness. The final passage is more specific about the dangers being faced.

Three sections form this prayer, which repeats statements from David's psalms and famous portions of the Old Testament. The first section asks for God's rescue during some hardship or danger. The second segment praises the Lord for His divine nature and His prior efforts on the psalmist's behalf. The last section returns to an appeal for salvation in the face of murderous enemies. Throughout this prayer are references to God using multiple terms, including the Hebrew word Adōnā'y, or Adonai, which literally means "Master."

This is the only passage attributed to David in this large segment, often called "Book Three" of the Psalms. It contains multiple quotes and allusions to David's other psalms (Psalms 22:28; 25:4; 31:2; 40:17; 54:3) as well as important Old Testament expressions (Exodus 15:11; 34:6; Deuteronomy 3:24). Most commentators suggest this was not written by David himself; this suggests the text is "of David" since it repeats portions of his words and echoes his views.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/23/2024 7:21:14 AM