Psalms 86:17

Show me evidence of your favor! ¹  Then those who hate me will see it and be ashamed, ²  for you, O Lord, will help me and comfort me. ³ 

Ps 40:1; Ps 41:10,11; Ps 71:9-13; Ps 71:20,21; Ps 74:9; Ps 109:29; Isa 38:22; Mic 7:8-10; 1Co 5:5

¹ tn Heb “Work with me a sign for good.” The expression “work a sign” also occurs in Judg 6:17.

² tn After the imperative in the preceding line (“work”), the prefixed verb forms with prefixed vav (ו) conjunctive indicate purpose or result.

³ tn The perfect verbal forms are understood here as dramatic/rhetorical, expressing the psalmist’s certitude that such a sign from the Lord will be followed by his intervention. Another option is to understand the forms as future perfects (“for you, O Lord, will have helped me and comforted me”).