Psalms 85:1-10

Hope in God’s Future Help

For the [music] director. Of the sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 O Yahweh, you favored your land. You restored the fortunes of Jacob.

2 You took away the guilt of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah

3 You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your burning anger.

4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, and annul your vexation with us.

5 Will you be angry against us forever? Will you prolong your anger generation after generation?

6 Will you not again revive us, that your people might rejoice in you?

7 Show us, O Yahweh, your loyal love, and grant us your salvation.

8 I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, because he will speak peace to his people, even his faithful [ones], but let them not return to folly.

9 Surely his salvation [is] near for those who fear him, that glory may abide in our land.

10 Loyal love and faithfulness will meet one another; righteousness and peace will kiss.

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Psalms 85:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. This psalm is generally thought to have been composed after the return of the Jews from their captivity in Babylon; and yet when they were in some distress from their neighbours, either in the times of Ezra and Nehemiah, or in the times of Antiochus; but then this deliverance from captivity must be considered as typical of redemption by Christ; for as the title of the Syriac version is, "it is a prophecy concerning Christ;" it speaks of his dwelling in the land, of his salvation being near, and of the glory of the divine perfections as displayed in it; and perhaps some parts of it may respect the conversion of the Jews in the latter day; and Aben Ezra and Kimchi say, it is concerning the captivity of Babylon, yet also of their present captivity.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 5

[a]. The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
[b]. Or "captivity"
[c]. Or "You forgave the iniquity"
[d]. Hebrew "and to his faithful"
[e]. Or "truth"