Psalms 86

David being fallen into great straights, taketh his refuge to his merciful and Almighty God, praying for a gracious deliverance out of them, to his comfort, and the confusion of his enemies, and promising God to be thankful for it.

1. A Prayer of David. [as Psalm 17.] LORD encline thine ear, hear me: for I am wretched and needy.

2. Keep (or, guard) my soul, for I am (thy) favourite: [Others, to whom thou shewest favour] O thou my God save thy servant, [i.e. me, and so likewise v.4. and 16.] which trusteth in thee.

3. Be gracious to me, LORD, for I cry unto thee all the day.

4. Chear the soul of thy servant: for unto thee Lord, do I Lift up my soul, [i.e. I seek help from thee, and from thee I likewise expect it: See Psal.25.on v.1.]

5. For thou LORD, art good, and gladly forgiving: [Heb. A willing, or ready forgiver, or acquitter] and of great kindness to all that call upon thee.

6. LORD, hearken to my prayer, and give heed to the voice of my supplications.

7. In the day of my distress do I call upon thee, for thou hearest me.

8. Among the Gods there is none like thee, LORD; [i.e. among the false gods, or idols: See Psalm 69.v.5. and 1 Cor.8.5,6. One may likewise understand hereby the name of Gods, the Angels, or the Princes and mighty ones of this world] and there are no works like thine.

9. All the heathen, Lord, whom thou hast made, shall come, and shall bow down before thy face, and honour thy name. [viz. In the days of the Kingdom of Christ, when the Gentiles, shall be called and brought to the knowledge of him.]

10. For thou art great, and dost wonders, Thou onely art God.

11. Teach me, LORD, thy way, [How I shall walk and live] I will walk in thy Truth: [i.e. in thy Commandments, which truely shew, how thou wilt be serve and honoured] unite my heart to the fear of thy Name: [Heb. To the fearing of thy Name; i.e. grant that my heart may be firmly knit and united with true pietie, without turning back or aside, or being rent from it, and without being driven to and fro.]

12. LORD, my God, I will praise thee with my whole heart, and I will honour thy Name in eternity:

13. For thy kindness is great over me: and thou hast rescued my soul; [i.e. me, my life, or my body, as Psalm 16.verse 10.] out of the nethermost (part) of the grave. [Hebr. The nethermost grave. The sence of this verse is, that David intreateth God for deliverance out of his misery, as he had done oftener before, understanding by the word grave or hell, the great danger and peril, or the great pain and misery, or even hell it self, from which God had delivered him, through Christ.]

14. O God, the proud do rise up against me, and the gatherings of Tyrants seek my soul: and they do not set thee before their eyes: [Hebr. Over against them, i.e. they have thee not before their eyes, nor stand in fear of thy holy Name, See Psalm 54.on v.5.]

15. But thou, Lord, art a merciful and gracious God, long-suffering, [or slow to wrath] and great of kindness and truth: [or faithfulness:]

16. Turn thee to me, and be gracious to me; give thy servant thy strength: [i.e. let thy strength and power be for mine advantage] and save the son of thine handmaid, (or bond-maid:) [that is my self, whose mother was, or is still thine hand maid, or a son of thy bond-maid, and consequently properly belonging unto thee, as the children born of bond0women were in the absolute disposal of their masters: Exod.21.4. with the Annot.]

17. Make a token by me for good, [i.e. so deliver and protect me, that I may be a mark or token to others, for their good and comfort, and encouragement] that mine haters see it, and be ashamed, when, [or because, for that] thou, Lord, shalt have helped me, and comforted me.