Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
2
Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
3
Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
4
Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
Psalms 86:1 — Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions
What does Psalms 86:1 say?
Psalms 86:1 in the King James Version reads: “Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.”
Where is Psalms 86:1 in the Bible?
Psalms 86:1 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Psalms, chapter 86, verse 1.
Who wrote Psalms?
Psalms is traditionally attributed to Multiple authors (David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, others). Approximately 73 psalms are attributed to David; others to Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, Heman, and Ethan; the remainder are anonymous. It was written c. 1410–430 BC.
What is the book of Psalms about?
The Psalms are the prayer book and hymnal of God's people, gathering a thousand years of inspired song — praise, lament, thanksgiving, confession, and royal and messianic worship. Every emotion of the believing heart finds a voice here, and every voice finds its center in Christ.
What are the major themes of Psalms?
Psalms explores themes including Praise, Lament, Trust, Messiah, Refuge, Kingship. These themes shape the meaning and context of Psalms 86:1.
What translation should I read Psalms 86:1 in?
Psalms 86:1 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Psalms 86:1?
Psalms 86:1 reads (KJV): “Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.