Psalms 85:1--87:7

Psalm 85

For the music director; written by the Korahites, a psalm.

85:1 O Lord, you showed favor to your land;

you restored the well-being of Jacob.

85:2 You pardoned the wrongdoing of your people;

you forgave all their sin. (Selah)

85:3 You withdrew all your fury;

you turned back from your raging anger.

85:4 Restore us, O God our deliverer!

Do not be displeased with us!

85:5 Will you stay mad at us forever?

Will you remain angry throughout future generations?

85:6 Will you not revive us once more?

Then your people will rejoice in you!

85:7 O Lord, show us your loyal love!

Bestow on us your deliverance!

85:8 I will listen to what God the Lord says.

For he will make peace with his people, his faithful followers.

Yet they must not return to their foolish ways.

85:9 Certainly his loyal followers will soon experience his deliverance;

then his splendor will again appear in our land.

85:10 Loyal love and faithfulness meet;

deliverance and peace greet each other with a kiss.

85:11 Faithfulness grows from the ground,

and deliverance looks down from the sky.

85:12 Yes, the Lord will bestow his good blessings,

and our land will yield its crops.

85:13 Deliverance goes before him,

and prepares a pathway for him.

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

86:1 Listen O Lord! Answer me!

For I am oppressed and needy.

86:2 Protect me, for I am loyal!

O my God, deliver your servant, who trusts in you!

86:3 Have mercy on me, O Lord,

for I cry out to you all day long!

86:4 Make your servant glad,

for to you, O Lord, I pray!

86:5 Certainly O Lord, you are kind and forgiving,

and show great faithfulness to all who cry out to you.

86:6 O Lord, hear my prayer!

Pay attention to my plea for mercy!

86:7 In my time of trouble I cry out to you,

for you will answer me.

86:8 None can compare to you among the gods, O Lord!

Your exploits are incomparable!

86:9 All the nations, whom you created,

will come and worship you, O Lord.

They will honor your name.

86:10 For you are great and do amazing things.

You alone are God.

86:11 O Lord, teach me how you want me to live!

Then I will obey your commands.

Make me wholeheartedly committed to you!

86:12 O Lord, my God, I will give you thanks with my whole heart!

I will honor your name continually!

86:13 For you will extend your great loyal love to me,

and will deliver my life from the depths of Sheol.

86:14 O God, arrogant men attack me;

a gang of ruthless men, who do not respect you, seek my life.

86:15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God.

You are patient and demonstrate great loyal love and faithfulness.

86:16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me!

Give your servant your strength!

Deliver your slave!

86:17 Show me evidence of your favor!

Then those who hate me will see it and be ashamed,

for you, O Lord, will help me and comfort me.

Psalm 87

Written by the Korahites; a psalm, a song.

87:1 The Lord’s city is in the holy hills.

87:2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion

more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.

87:3 People say wonderful things about you,

O city of God. (Selah)

87:4 I mention Rahab and Babylon to my followers.

Here are Philistia and Tyre, along with Ethiopia.

It is said of them, “This one was born there.”

87:5 But it is said of Zion’s residents,

“Each one of these was born in her,

and the sovereign One makes her secure.”

87:6 The Lord writes in the census book of the nations,

“This one was born there.” (Selah)

87:7 As for the singers, as well as the pipers –

all of them sing within your walls.