Psalms 85:1-10

1 Lord, you have been kind to your land; you brought back the people of Jacob.

2 You forgave the guilt of the people and covered all their sins. Selah

3 You stopped all your anger; you turned back from your strong anger.

4 God our Savior, bring us back again. Stop being angry with us.

5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you stay angry from now on?

6 Won't you give us life again? Your people would rejoice in you.

7 Lord, show us your love, and save us.

8 I will listen to God the Lord. He has ordered peace for those who worship him. Don't let them go back to foolishness.

9 God will soon save those who respect him, and his glory will be seen in our land.

10 Love and truth belong to God's people; goodness and peace will be theirs.

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.