TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 86

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1A prayer of David. Incline Your ear, O Hashem, answer me, for I am poor and needy.

אתְּפִלָּה לְדָוִד הַטֵּה־יְהֹוָה אָזְנְךָ עֲנֵנִי כִּי־עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן אָנִי׃

2Preserve my life, for I am steadfast; O You, my God, deliver Your servant who trusts in You.

בשָׁמְרָה נַפְשִׁי כִּי־חָסִיד אָנִי הוֹשַׁע עַבְדְּךָ אַתָּה אֱלֹהַי הַבּוֹטֵחַ אֵלֶיךָ׃

3Have mercy on me, O Hashem, for I call to You all day long;

גחָנֵּנִי אֲדֹנָי כִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֶקְרָא כָּל־הַיּוֹם׃

4bring joy to Your servant's life, for on You, Hashem, I set my hope.

דשַׂמֵּחַ נֶפֶשׁ עַבְדֶּךָ כִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֲדֹנָי נַפְשִׁי אֶשָּׂא׃

5For You, Hashem, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on You.

הכִּי־אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי טוֹב וְסַלָּח וְרַב־חֶסֶד לְכָל־קֹרְאֶיךָ׃

6Give ear, Hashem, to my prayer; heed my plea for mercy.

והַאֲזִינָה יְהֹוָה תְּפִלָּתִי וְהַקְשִׁיבָה בְּקוֹל תַּחֲנוּנוֹתָי׃

7In my time of trouble I call You, for You will answer me.

זבְּיוֹם צָרָתִי אֶקְרָאֶךָּ כִּי תַעֲנֵנִי׃

8There is none like You among the gods, O Hashem, and there are no deeds like Yours.

חאֵין־כָּמוֹךָ בָאֱלֹהִים אֲדֹנָי וְאֵין כְּמַעֲשֶׂיךָ׃

9All the nations You have made will come to bow down before You, O Hashem, and they will pay honor to Your name.

kol go-YIM a-SHER a-SEE-ta ya-VO-u v'-yish-ta-kha-VU l'-fa-NE-kha a-do-NAI vee-kha-b'-DU lish-ME-kha

טכָּל־גּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ יָבוֹאוּ וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְפָנֶיךָ אֲדֹנָי וִיכַבְּדוּ לִשְׁמֶךָ׃

 86:9   All the nations

King Shlomo built the Beit Hamikdash in a very unique way, which allowed all the nations of the world to come and be inspired by the light of Hashem. In Sefer Melachim I 6:4, the windows of the Beit Hamikdash are described as both transparent and opaque at the same time. The Talmud (Menachot 86b) explains that as opposed to ordinary buildings whose windows are built to allow light to enter, the windows of the Beit Hamikdash were constructed to allow the light from inside to shine outwards. This symbolized the divine light that emanated from within the Beit Hamikdash and illuminated the entire world. Thus, when looking at the Beit Hamikdash, one experienced its reflective light, while inside the Temple it was opaque. This is a manifestation of David’s desire, expressed here, that all the nations of the world will come to experience the light of God shining from the Temple.

10For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.

יכִּי־גָדוֹל אַתָּה וְעֹשֵׂה נִפְלָאוֹת אַתָּה אֱלֹהִים לְבַדֶּךָ׃

11Teach me Your way, O Hashem; I will walk in Your truth; let my heart be undivided in reverence for Your name.

יאהוֹרֵנִי יְהֹוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ אֲהַלֵּךְ בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ יַחֵד לְבָבִי לְיִרְאָה שְׁמֶךָ׃

12I will praise You, O Hashem, my God, with all my heart and pay honor to Your name forever.

יבאוֹדְךָ אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהַי בְּכָל־לְבָבִי וַאֲכַבְּדָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם׃

13For Your steadfast love toward me is great; You have saved me from the depths of Sheol.

יגכִּי־חַסְדְּךָ גָּדוֹל עָלָי וְהִצַּלְתָּ נַפְשִׁי מִשְּׁאוֹל תַּחְתִּיָּה׃

14O Hashem, arrogant men have risen against me; a band of ruthless men seek my life; they are not mindful of You.

ידאֱלֹהִים זֵדִים קָמוּ־עָלַי וַעֲדַת עָרִיצִים בִּקְשׁוּ נַפְשִׁי וְלֹא שָׂמוּךָ לְנֶגְדָּם׃

15But You, O Hashem, are a God compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

טווְאַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֵל־רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב־חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת׃

16Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant Your strength to Your servant and deliver the son of Your maidservant.

טזפְּנֵה אֵלַי וְחָנֵּנִי תְּנָה־עֻזְּךָ לְעַבְדֶּךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעָה לְבֶן־אֲמָתֶךָ׃

17Show me a sign of Your favor, that my enemies may see and be frustrated because You, Hashem, have given me aid and comfort.

יזעֲשֵׂה־עִמִּי אוֹת לְטוֹבָה וְיִרְאוּ שֹׂנְאַי וְיֵבֹשׁוּ כִּי־אַתָּה יְהֹוָה עֲזַרְתַּנִי וְנִחַמְתָּנִי׃