But You, O GOD, the Lord, deal kindly with me for the sake of Your name; deliver me by the goodness of Your loving devotion.
Parallel translations
- WEB But deal with me, Yahweh the Lord, for your name’s sake, because your loving kindness is good, deliver me;
- KJV But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
- ESV But you, O GOD my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name’s sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!
- NKJV But You, O GOD the Lord, Deal with me for Your name’s sake; Because Your mercy is good, deliver me.
- NASB ¶But You, God, the Lord, deal kindly with me for the sake of Your name; Because Your mercy is good, rescue me;
- NLT But deal well with me, O Sovereign Lord, for the sake of your own reputation! Rescue me because you are so faithful and good.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David turns from his enemies to plead with God for deliverance, appealing to God's own name and steadfast love. His hope rests not in himself but in God's goodness.
Overview
The 'But' marks a sharp shift from imprecation to prayer for rescue. David grounds his appeal not in his own merit but in God's name (reputation) and 'loving kindness' (covenant love, Hebrew chesed). This is the heart of biblical prayer, resting on God's character, and it points to the salvation given freely for Christ's sake.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Ps 69:16Answer me, O LORD, for Your loving devotion is good; turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion.
- Ps 31:3For You are my rock and my fortress; lead me and guide me for the sake of Your name.
- Ps 63:3Because Your loving devotion is better than life, my lips will glorify You.
- Ps 79:9–10Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for the sake of Your name.
- Phil 2:8–11And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
- Ps 25:11For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.
- Ps 143:11–12For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me. In Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
- Ps 36:7–9How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings!
- Ps 86:15But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.
- Ps 86:5For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.
- John 17:1When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You.
- Ps 69:29But I am in pain and distress; let Your salvation protect me, O God.
- Ps 23:3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 109:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.