For the music director; written by the Korahites, a psalm.
85:1 O Lord, you showed favor to your land;
you restored the well-being of Jacob.
85:2 You pardoned the wrongdoing of your people;
you forgave all their sin. (Selah)
85:3 You withdrew all your fury;
you turned back from your raging anger.
85:4 Restore us, O God our deliverer!
Do not be displeased with us!
85:5 Will you stay mad at us forever?
Will you remain angry throughout future generations?
85:6 Will you not revive us once more?
Then your people will rejoice in you!
85:7 O Lord, show us your loyal love!
Bestow on us your deliverance!
85:8 I will listen to what God the Lord says.
For he will make peace with his people, his faithful followers.
Yet they must not return to their foolish ways.
85:9 Certainly his loyal followers will soon experience his deliverance;
then his splendor will again appear in our land.
85:10 Loyal love and faithfulness meet;
deliverance and peace greet each other with a kiss.
85:11 Faithfulness grows from the ground,
and deliverance looks down from the sky.
85:12 Yes, the Lord will bestow his good blessings,
and our land will yield its crops.
85:13 Deliverance goes before him,
and prepares a pathway for him.
A prayer of David.
86:1 Listen O Lord! Answer me!
For I am oppressed and needy.
86:2 Protect me, for I am loyal!
O my God, deliver your servant, who trusts in you!
86:3 Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I cry out to you all day long!
86:4 Make your servant glad,
for to you, O Lord, I pray!
86:5 Certainly O Lord, you are kind and forgiving,
and show great faithfulness to all who cry out to you.
86:6 O Lord, hear my prayer!
Pay attention to my plea for mercy!
86:7 In my time of trouble I cry out to you,
for you will answer me.
86:8 None can compare to you among the gods, O Lord!
Your exploits are incomparable!
86:9 All the nations, whom you created,
will come and worship you, O Lord.
They will honor your name.
86:10 For you are great and do amazing things.
You alone are God.
86:11 O Lord, teach me how you want me to live!
Then I will obey your commands.
Make me wholeheartedly committed to you!
86:12 O Lord, my God, I will give you thanks with my whole heart!
I will honor your name continually!
86:13 For you will extend your great loyal love to me,
and will deliver my life from the depths of Sheol.
86:14 O God, arrogant men attack me;
a gang of ruthless men, who do not respect you, seek my life.
86:15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God.
You are patient and demonstrate great loyal love and faithfulness.
86:16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me!
Give your servant your strength!
Deliver your slave!
86:17 Show me evidence of your favor!
Then those who hate me will see it and be ashamed,
for you, O Lord, will help me and comfort me.
Written by the Korahites; a psalm, a song.
87:1 The Lord’s city is in the holy hills.
87:2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
87:3 People say wonderful things about you,
O city of God. (Selah)
87:4 I mention Rahab and Babylon to my followers.
Here are Philistia and Tyre, along with Ethiopia.
It is said of them, “This one was born there.”
87:5 But it is said of Zion’s residents,
“Each one of these was born in her,
and the sovereign One makes her secure.”
87:6 The Lord writes in the census book of the nations,
“This one was born there.” (Selah)
87:7 As for the singers, as well as the pipers –
all of them sing within your walls.