Psalm 86 is a humble prayer of someone in need: “Incline thy ear, O Lord, and hear me: for I am needy and poor.” It praises God as “a God of compassion, and merciful, patient, and of much mercy, and true,” and asks, “Conduct me, O Lord, in thy way, and I will walk in thy truth.” The Church prays it at Night Prayer on Mondays. In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 85. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 86 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
A prayer for David himself. Incline thy ear, O Lord, and hear me: for I am needy and poor.
Preserve my soul, for I am holy: save thy servant, O my God, that trusteth in thee.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I have cried to thee all the day.
Give joy to the soul of thy servant, for to thee, O Lord, I have lifted up my soul.
For thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild: and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon thee.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer: and attend to the voice of my petition.
I have called upon thee in the day of my trouble: because thou hast heard me.
There is none among the gods like unto thee, O Lord: and there is none according to thy works.
All the nations thou hast made shall come and adore before thee, O Lord: and they shall glorify thy name.
For thou art great and dost wonderful things: thou art God alone.
Conduct me, O Lord, in thy way, and I will walk in thy truth: let my heart rejoice that it may fear thy name.
I will praise thee, O Lord my God: with my whole heart, and I will glorify thy name for ever:
For thy mercy is great towards me: and thou hast delivered my soul out of the lower hell.
O God, the wicked are risen up against me, and the assembly of the mighty have sought my soul: and they have not set thee before their eyes.
And thou, O Lord, art a God of compassion, and merciful, patient, and of much mercy, and true.
O look upon me, and have mercy on me: give thy command to thy servant, and save the son of thy handmaid.
Shew me a token for good: that they who hate me may see, and be confounded, because thou, O Lord, hast helped me and hast comforted me.
Psalm 86 or Psalm 85?
The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 85 is Psalm 86 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Inclina, Domine, aurem tuam, et exaudi me. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- Poor before God: the psalmist comes with empty hands, needing everything.
- “Thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild”: God is good and ready to forgive.
- No god like the Lord: all nations will come and adore him.
- An undivided heart: “Conduct me, O Lord, in thy way, and I will walk in thy truth: let my heart rejoice that it may fear thy name.”
- God’s character: compassionate, merciful, patient, rich in mercy and true, echoing God’s own words to Moses (Exodus 34:6).
How the Church uses Psalm 86
- At Night Prayer (Compline) on Mondays. See Compline.
- At Mass on the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A): “Lord, you are good and forgiving.”
- For guidance, as a prayer for a united heart. See psalms for guidance.
A prayer with Psalm 86
Written for this page:
Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
You are good and forgiving, rich in mercy to all who call on you.
Teach me your way, that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
What is Psalm 86 about?
A humble prayer for help from God, who is compassionate, merciful and faithful, and a request to be taught his way.
When is Psalm 86 prayed?
At Night Prayer on Mondays in the Liturgy of the Hours, and at Mass on several Sundays.
More psalms and prayers
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 85 (86); Exodus 34:6, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.