G1 K 1-6. Prayer.
L i 7-. "I will call".
k -7. Reason. "For".
M 8-. Yahaveh incomparable.
M -8. His works incomparable.
L i 9. "All nations shall worship".
k 10. Reason.
K 11-17. Prayer.
(Cp. 72:20, referring to the whole Book II. The only Psalm in this the 3rd book ascribed to David. Refers to David's Son and Lord.)
Psalm 86)
1 Bow down Your ear, O LORD, answer me:
For I am helpless and needy.
2 Preserve my soul; for I am one whom You favor:
O You my God, save Your servant that confides in You.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord:
For I cry to You all day.
4 Rejoice the soul of Your servant:
For to You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive;
And plenteous in grace (or loving-kindness) to all them that 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 (or judges. See Ex. 21:6; 22:8,9) there is none likened to You, O Lord;
Neither are there any works likened to Your works.
9 All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord;
And shall glorify Your name. (Cp. Isa. 66:23.)
10 For You are great, and do wondrous things:
You art God alone.
K l 11,12. Prayer, and consequences.
m 13. Plea. Goodness of God.
n 14-. Man's wickedness. Man-ward.
n -14. Man's wickedness. God-ward.
m 15. Plea.
l 16,17. Prayer, and object.
11 Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth:
Unite my heart (or, "Let my heart rejoice") to revere Your name.
12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart:
And I will glorify Your name for evermore.
13 For great is Your mercy toward me:
And You hast delivered my soul from Sheol beneath. (Not the language of "Semitic heathenism", but the inspired revelation of Divine eschatology.)
14 O God, the proud are risen against me,
And the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul;
And have not set You before them.
15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. (Cp. Ex. 34:6.)
16 O turn to me, and show favor to (or be gracious to) me;
Give Your strength to Your servant,
And save the son of Your handmaid.
17 Show me a token for good;
That they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed:
Because You, LORD, have helped me, and comforted me.