Psalms 85:1-10

1 To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Thou hast accepted, O Jehovah, Thy land, Thou hast turned [to] the captivity of Jacob.

2 Thou hast borne away the iniquity of Thy people, Thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.

3 Thou hast gathered up all Thy wrath, Thou hast turned back from the fierceness of Thine anger.

4 Turn back [to] us, O God of our salvation, And make void Thine anger with us.

5 To the age art Thou angry against us? Dost Thou draw out Thine anger To generation and generation?

6 Dost Thou not turn back? Thou revivest us, And Thy people do rejoice in Thee.

7 Show us, O Jehovah, thy kindness, And Thy salvation Thou dost give to us.

8 I hear what God Jehovah speaketh, For He speaketh peace unto His people, And unto His saints, and they turn not back to folly.

9 Only, near to those fearing Him [is] His salvation, That honour may dwell in our land.

10 Kindness and truth have met, Righteousness and peace have kissed,

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.