Psalm 86 is the 86th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 85. In Latin, it is known as "Inclina Domine".Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 85 (86) medievalist.net It is attributed to David.
The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been paraphrased in hymns and set to music, including settings by Heinrich Schütz in German and Basil Harwood in Latin. Henry Purcell and Gustav Holst composed elaborate anthems in English. In Mendelssohn's Elijah, three verses from Psalm 86 are used in the narration.
A prayer of David The psalm bears the title "A Prayer of David" (; tə-p̄i-lāh lə-ḏā-wiḏ). It is one of five psalms labeled as "prayer" (tephillah), and bears a resemblance to Psalm 17, which also has this title (cf. Psalm 90, known as the "prayer of Moses").Spurgeon, Charles H. Treasury of David. "Psalm 86". Christianity.com .Accessed on 17 July 2021. This psalm is the only one attributed to David in Book 3 of Psalms (comprising Psalms 73 to 89).Cole, Steven J. (2009) Psalm 86: A Lesson on Prayer. Bible.org, accessed on 17 July 2021 The preceding three psalms (Psalms 83-85) and Psalms 87 and 88 are attributed to the sons of Korah.
Analysis Biblical commentator Cyril Rodd suggests that three parts are transparent in this psalm:
The first, verses 1–7, are 'a plea for help'; in relation to 'the psalmist's piety' (verses 1–4) and 'the character of God' (verses 5–7). The second, verses 8–13, form a hymn, 'interrupted by a call on God to teach the psalmist' (verse 11), and concluding with 'thankful confidence' for answered prayer, and 'a vow to offer praise'/'sacrifice a thank-offering' (verses 12–13) The final part, verses 14–17, are 'renewed prayer', ending with a request for a 'sign' or the 'salvation'.
The composition of the psalm features frequent parallels and repetitions, such as an eightfold 'for' (verses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 13), the repeated 'Lord' eleven times (verses 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 17, with seven of them being adonai (verses 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15), and the four others as "YHWH". The psalmist is named the 'servant' of YHWH (abdeka; "your servant") in verses 2, 4, 16, which may indicate literary patterns. A chiastic structure has been discovered, with verse 11 in the center:
1–4 5–6 7 8–10 11 12–13 14 15 16–17
Verses 5 and 15 refer to ; verse 16 is a paraphrase of the middle part in the Priestly Blessing ().
Verse 1 Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; For I am poor and needy.: New King James Version The same statement appears in .Keil, Carl Friedrich and Delitzsch, Franz, OT Commentary on Psalm 86, accessed 13 March 2022
Uses New Testament Verse 9 is quoted in Revelation 15:4.
Judaism Verse 5 is part of one of the intermediate paragraphs of Uva Letzion.The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 157 Verse 8 is recited when opening the Hakafot on Simchat Torah.The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 759 Verses 9 and 10 are part of Baruch Hashem L'Olam during Maariv.The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 265 In the Nusach Sefard, this psalm is recited before the daily psalm (Shir shel Yom) on days that tachanun is recited.
Eastern Orthodox Church In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Psalm 85 (Psalm 86 in the Masoretic Text) is read daily at the Ninth Hour. It is part of the twelfth Kathisma division of the Psalter, read at Vespers on Wednesday evenings, as well as on Tuesdays and Thursdays during Lent, at Matins and the Ninth Hour, respectively.The Holy Psalter, Saint Ignatius Orthodox Press, 2022
Coptic Orthodox Church In the Agpeya, the Coptic Church's book of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office of Sext, as well as the first watch of the Midnight office. It is also in the prayer of the Veil, which is generally prayed only by monks.
Book of Common Prayer In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the 17th day of the month.Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 196ff
Historic Uses An inscription in Koine Greek, the language used in the New Testament, discovered in 2023 at the Byzantine monastery of Kastellion from the Judaean desert, represents a paraphrase of part of Psalm 86, where the original invocation of "the Lord" has been replaced by one of Jesus Christ.Unique Byzantine Psalm inscription in New Testament Greek discovered in Judean Desert. Gavriel Fiske for Times of Israel, 27 Sep 2023. Accessed 2 Oct 2023.
Musical settings Several hymns paraphrase Psalm 86 or parts of it, including "Bow down Thine ear, O Lord".]
The Renaissance composer Cristóbal de Morales composed a motet in Latin, "Inclina Domine aurem tuam", first published in 1543.Wacław z Szamotuł composed Nakłoń, Panie, ku mnie ucho Twoje song to the Polish translation of Psalm 86 by Mikołaj Rej in the 16th century.Pieśń wieczorna (in Polish) empik.com 2020 Heinrich Schütz set a German metric paraphrase, "Herr, neig zu mir dein gnädigs Ohr" (Lord, bow to me your gracious ear) as part of the 1602 Becker Psalter, as SWV 183. Henry Purcell composed an anthem, Bow down thine ear, O Lord, Z11, in 1681 or earlier. It is based on verses 1, 3–6, 8, 10–12, alternating soloists and choir, with organ.Robert King: Bow down thine ear, O Lord, Z11 Hyperion Records
Andreas Romberg wrote seven psalm settings for different unaccompanied choirs, titled Psalmodie, Op. 65, between 1817 and 1820, using translations into German by Moses Mendelssohn. Psalm 86 is the first, written for a five-part choir SSATB. In Mendelssohn's Elijah, three verses from Psalm 86 are used in the narration of the oratorio. In #2, a duet, the beginning is used to begin a plea,Elijah, Op. 70 (1846) The Choral Society 2015 p. 3 and in #8, the scene between Elijah and the widow, he first paraphrases verse 16 and then quotes verse 15, "for Thou art gracious, and full of compassion and plenteous in mercy and truth", praying to bring her son back to life.Mendelssohn's Elijah Boston University Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Chorus 2011 p. 6
British composer Clara Ross (1858–1954) used Psalm 86 for the text of her song "Comfort the Soul of Thy Servant". William Crotch set verse 4 as an anthem for choir and organ, Comfort, O Lord, The Soul of Thy Servant. Basil Harwood composed a setting of the psalm for his doctoral thesis in 1896, Inclina domine. Walter Piston composed a setting in English for four-part choir and piano.Scores and Sheet music of Walter Piston 99malls.com Gustav Holst set Psalm 86, together with Psalm 148 in English, "To my humble supplication", for mixed choir, string orchestra and organ in 1912.Julian Haylock: Two Psalms, H117 Hyperion Records 1998Martin Jenkins: Holst Two Psalms repertoire-explorer.musikmph.de 2010 George Enescu planned a symphony in F minor for baritone, choir and orchestra on text from Psalm 86, but left only fragments c. 1917.
In 1985, Xaver Paul Thoma composed a setting for mezzo-soprano, viola and organ, premiered in 1993 in Karlsruhe-Durlach by Henrike Paede, Jean-Eric Souzy as violist and Hans Martin Corrinth as the organist.xpt 057. PSALM 86, Mezzo-Sopran, Bratsche, Orgel xaver-paul-thoma.de
The South African composer Stefans Grové wrote a setting (from verse 10) for children's choir, choir, African drums, marimba, and string orchestra in 2002.Stephanus Muller, Chris Walton (eds.): A Composer in Africa: Essays on the Life and Work of Stefans Grové p. 124
Text The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions.A 1917 translation directly from Hebrew to English by the Jewish Publication Society can be found here or here, and an 1844 translation directly from the Septuagint by L. C. L. Brenton can be found here. Both translations are in the public domain. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 85. #HebrewEnglishGreek 1 (A Prayer of David.) 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.
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Text of Psalm 86 according to the 1928 Psalter Psalm 86 – Help from the Great God text and detailed commentary, enduringword.com A prayer of David. Incline your ear, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and oppressed. text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Psalm 86:1 introduction and text, biblestudytools.com Psalm 86 / Refrain: All nations you have made shall come and worship you, O Lord. Church of England Psalm 86 at biblegateway.com Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. 10: Psalms, Part III, tr. by John King, (1847–50) / Psalm 86 sacred-texts.com Hymns for Psalm 86 hymnary.org