Psalms 86:15
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Study Note
Study Note
The psalmist's invocation of the classical covenant formula — 'but you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness' — quotes Exodus 34:6 nearly verbatim, grounding the personal prayer within the foundational self-revelation of God at Sinai. The use of this formula in personal lament (Psalm 86 is attributed to David in distress) demonstrates how the community's received theology of divine character becomes the resource for individual petition. The five attributes — merciful (rachum), gracious (channun), slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love (chesed), and faithful (emet) — form the most complete Old Testament characterization of God's covenantal nature. The verse's use of Exodus 34 shows how the Psalter functions as the liturgical mediation of theological tradition, making Sinai accessible to every worshiper in every distress.
Other Translations
But thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.
And Thou, O Lord, <FI>art<Fi> God, merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in kindness and truth.
But you, O Lord, are a God full of pity and forgiveness, slow to get angry, great in mercy and wisdom.
Cross References
The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all …
And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in …
The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting …
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and …
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his …
And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and …
The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.