Psalms 85:1-10

1 God, you smiled on your good earth! You brought good times back to Jacob!
2 You lifted the cloud of guilt from your people, you put their sins far out of sight.
3 You took back your sin-provoked threats, you cooled your hot, righteous anger.
4 Help us again, God of our help; don't hold a grudge against us forever.
5 You aren't going to keep this up, are you? scowling and angry, year after year?
6 Why not help us make a fresh start - a resurrection life? Then your people will laugh and sing!
7 Show us how much you love us, God! Give us the salvation we need!
8 I can't wait to hear what he'll say. God's about to pronounce his people well, The holy people he loves so much, so they'll never again live like fools.
9 See how close his salvation is to those who fear him? Our country is home base for Glory!
10 Love and Truth meet in the street, Right Living and Whole Living embrace and kiss!

Images for Psalms 85:1-10

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.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.