Psalms 86:5
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
Study Note
Study Note
The psalmist's declaration of the grounds for prayer — 'for you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you' — is one of the clearest statement in the Psalter of divine moral character as the basis for confident intercession. The three attributes — good (tov), forgiving (sallach), and abounding in steadfast love (rav chesed) — each carry deep covenantal resonance, with 'chesed' especially pointing to the loyal, durable love that defines God's character in Exodus 34:6-7. The phrase 'to all who call upon you' removes any restriction of divine forgiveness to the particularly righteous, grounding access in the act of calling rather than the status of the caller. The verse has been central to Jewish and Christian prayer theologies that ground confident petition in God's character rather than the petitioner's worthiness.
Other Translations
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness unto all them that call upon thee.
For Thou, Lord, <FI>art<Fi> good and forgiving. And abundant in kindness to all calling Thee.
You are good, O Lord, and full of forgiveness; your mercy is great to all who make their cry to you.
Cross References
And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant …
And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and …
Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy …
Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.