New International VersionA prayer of David. Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
New Living TranslationBend down, O LORD, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.
English Standard VersionIncline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Berean Standard BibleA prayer of David. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
King James BibleA Prayer of David. Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
New King James VersionA Prayer of David. Bow down Your ear, O LORD, hear me; For I am poor and needy.
New American Standard BibleA Prayer of David. Incline Your ear, LORD, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy.
NASB 1995A Prayer of David. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy.
NASB 1977Incline Thine ear, O LORD, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy.
Legacy Standard BibleA Prayer of David. Incline Your ear, O Yahweh, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy.
Amplified BibleA Prayer of David. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me, For I am distressed and needy [I long for Your help].
Christian Standard BibleA prayer of David. Listen, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Holman Christian Standard BibleA Davidic prayer. Listen, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
American Standard VersionA Prayer of David. Bow down thine ear, O Jehovah, and answer me; For I am poor and needy.
Contemporary English VersionPlease listen, LORD, and answer my prayer! I am poor and helpless.
English Revised VersionA Prayer Of David. Bow down thine ear, O LORD, and answer me; for I am poor and needy.
GOD'S WORD® Translation[A prayer by David.] Turn your ear [toward me], O LORD. Answer me, because I am oppressed and needy.
Good News TranslationListen to me, LORD, and answer me, for I am helpless and weak.
International Standard VersionLORD, listen and answer me, for I am afflicted and needy.
NET BibleA prayer of David. Listen O LORD! Answer me! For I am oppressed and needy.
New Heart English Bible[A Prayer by David.] Hear, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Webster's Bible TranslationA Prayer of David. Bow down thy ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleA prayer of David. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
World English BibleA Prayer by David. Hear, Yahweh, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionA PRAYER OF DAVID. Incline, O YHWH, Your ear, "" Answer me, for I [am] poor and needy.
Young's Literal Translation A Prayer of David. Incline, O Jehovah, Thine ear, Answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Smith's Literal TranslationA prayer to David. Incline, O Jehovah, thine ear: answer me, for I am poor and needy. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleA prayer for David himself. Incline thy ear, O Lord, and hear me: for I am needy and poor.
Catholic Public Domain VersionA Prayer of David himself. Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear me. For I am needy and poor.
New American Bible
A prayer of David. Incline your ear, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and oppressed.
New Revised Standard Version
Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.Translations from Aramaic Lamsa Bible
INCLINE thine ear, O LORD; hear me, for I am poor and needy.
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Incline your ear, LORD JEHOVAH, and answer me, because I am poor and afflicted!OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917
A Prayer of David. Incline Thine ear, O LORD, and answer me; For I am poor and needy.
Brenton Septuagint Translation
A Prayer of David. O Lord, incline thine ear, and hearken to me; for I am poor and needy.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Tried But Trusting1A prayerof David. InclineYour ear,O LORD,and answer me,forIam poorand needy.2Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You.…
Cross References Psalm 17:6I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.
Psalm 31:2Incline Your ear to me; come quickly to my rescue. Be my rock of refuge, the stronghold of my deliverance.
Psalm 55:1-2For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea. / Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught
Psalm 102:1-2A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You. / Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.
Psalm 116:1-2I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice—my appeal for mercy. / Because He has inclined His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.
Isaiah 55:3Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.
2 Kings 19:16Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.
Nehemiah 1:6let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.
Daniel 9:18Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion.
Exodus 22:27because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
James 4:10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
1 Peter 5:6-7Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. / Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Matthew 7:7-8Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Luke 18:13-14But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ / I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Romans 10:12-13For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him, / for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Treasury of Scripture Bow down your ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. A Prayer of David. Psalm 102:1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Psalm 142:1 Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. Bow Psalm 31:2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. Isaiah 37:17 Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God. Daniel 9:18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. for I am Psalm 10:14 Thou hast seenit; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requiteit with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heardhim, and saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 40:17 But Iam poor and needy;yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thouart my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. Jump to Previous AfflictedBowDavidEarEarsHearInclineNeedNeedyOpenPoorPrayerVoiceJump to Next AfflictedBowDavidEarEarsHearInclineNeedNeedyOpenPoorPrayerVoicePsalm 86 1.David strengthens his prayer by the consciousness of his religion5.By the goodness and power of God11.He desires the continuance of former grace14.Complaining of the proud, he craves some token of God's goodnessA prayer of David.This psalm is attributed to David, the second king of Israel, known for his deep relationship with God and his authorship of many psalms. David's life was marked by both triumphs and trials, making his prayers deeply personal and relatable. The title indicates that this is a prayer, highlighting the psalm's nature as a direct communication with God. David's prayers often reflect his reliance on God, a theme consistent throughout his life, as seen in 1 Samuel 13:14, where he is described as a man after God's own heart. Incline Your ear, O LORD,
The phrase "Incline Your ear" is a plea for God's attention and intervention. It reflects the ancient Near Eastern cultural understanding of gods as beings who could be petitioned for help. The use of "LORD" in all caps signifies the Hebrew name YHWH, the covenant name of God, emphasizing a personal relationship. This request for God to listen is echoed in other scriptures, such asPsalm 17:6 andPsalm 31:2, where the psalmist seeks God's attentive presence. and answer me,
David seeks a response from God, indicating his belief in a living, responsive deity. This expectation of divine interaction is a central tenet of biblical faith, contrasting with the impersonal nature of pagan gods. The request for an answer underscores the urgency and sincerity of David's prayer, as seen in other psalms likePsalm 4:1 andPsalm 102:2, where the psalmist calls for God's immediate response. for I am poor and needy.
David describes himself as "poor and needy," terms that convey both material and spiritual dependence. Despite his status as king, David acknowledges his vulnerability and need for God's provision and protection. This humility is a recurring theme in scripture, as seen inMatthew 5:3, where Jesus blesses the "poor in spirit." The acknowledgment of need is a prerequisite for receiving God's grace and mercy, as illustrated inJames 4:6, which states that God gives grace to the humble. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe author of this psalm, David is often seen as a man after God's own heart. He frequently turned to God in times of distress, demonstrating a deep reliance on divine help. 2. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal presence and faithfulness to His people. David calls upon Yahweh, highlighting a personal relationship and trust in God's character. 3. The Psalmist's ConditionDavid describes himself as "poor and needy," indicating a state of humility and dependence on God for deliverance and provision. Teaching Points The Posture of HumilityDavid's acknowledgment of being "poor and needy" is a model for believers to approach God with humility, recognizing our dependence on His grace and mercy. God's Attentive EarThe request for God to "incline Your ear" assures us that God is attentive to the cries of His people. We can have confidence that our prayers are heard. Persistent PrayerDavid's example encourages us to be persistent in prayer, continually bringing our needs before God, trusting in His timing and provision. Trust in God's CharacterBy calling on the LORD, David demonstrates trust in God's unchanging nature. Believers are reminded to rely on God's faithfulness and covenant promises. Spiritual PovertyRecognizing our spiritual poverty apart from Christ is crucial. This awareness should drive us to seek God's presence and provision in every aspect of our lives. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 86
What does 'incline your ear' mean?
What does "incline your ear" mean?
Psalm 86:8 – Does acknowledging the existence of “other gods” conflict with the Bible’s insistence on strict monotheism?
How do we explain the anthropomorphic language in Exodus 33:22–23 where God shows Moses only His back, suggesting that God has a physical form?Verses 1-5. - Prayer, the predominant note of the entire psalm, holds almost exclusive possession of the first strophe, only passing into praise when the last verse is reached, where the petitioner reminds God of his loving kindness and readiness to forgive. Verse 1. - Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me (comp. Psalm 31:2; Proverbs 22:17). For I am poor and needy; or, "I am afflicted and in misery." Poverty in the ordinary sense is scarcely intended.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew A Prayerתְּפִלָּ֗ה(tə·p̄il·lāh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8605:Intercession, supplication, a hymnof David.לְדָ֫וִ֥ד(lə·ḏā·wiḏ)Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732:David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of JesseInclineהַטֵּֽה־(haṭ·ṭêh-)Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5186:To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bendYour ear,אָזְנְךָ֣(’ā·zə·nə·ḵā)Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 241:Broadness, the earO LORD,יְהוָ֣ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israeland answer me,עֲנֵ֑נִי(‘ă·nê·nî)Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 6030:To answer, respondforכִּֽי־(kî-)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionIאָֽנִי׃(’ā·nî)Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589:Iam poorעָנִ֖י(‘ā·nî)Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6041:Poor, afflicted, humbleand needy.וְאֶבְי֣וֹן(wə·’eḇ·yō·wn)Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 34:In want, needy, poor
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OT Poetry: Psalm 86:1 A Prayer by David (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
