Prayer for Mercy, with Meditation on the Excellencies of the Lord

A Prayer of David.

86 Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me;For I am poor and needy.² Preserve my life, for I am holy;You are my God;Save Your servant who trusts in You!³ Be merciful to me, O Lord,For I cry to You all day long.⁴ Rejoice the soul of Your servant,For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.⁵ For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

⁶ Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;And attend to the voice of my supplications.⁷ In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,For You will answer me.

⁸ Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord;Nor are there any works like Your works.⁹ All nations whom You have madeShall come and worship before You, O Lord,And shall glorify Your name.¹⁰ For You are great, and do wondrous things;You alone are God.

¹¹ Teach me Your way, O Lord;I will walk in Your truth;Unite my heart to fear Your name.¹² I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,And I will glorify Your name forevermore.¹³ For great is Your mercy toward me,And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

¹⁴ O God, the proud have risen against me,And a mob of violent men have sought my life,And have not set You before them.¹⁵ But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

¹⁶ Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!Give Your strength to Your servant,And save the son of Your maidservant.¹⁷ Show me a sign for good,That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.