Psalms 85:1-10

1 Lord, you were good to your land: changing the fate of Jacob.

2 The wrongdoing of your people had forgiveness; all their sin had been covered. (Selah.)

3 You were no longer angry: you were turned from the heat of your wrath.

4 Come back to us, O God of our salvation, and be angry with us no longer.

5 Will you go on being angry with us for ever? will you keep your wrath against us through all the long generations?

6 Will you not give us life again, so that your people may be glad in you?

7 Let us see your mercy, O Lord, and give us your salvation.

8 I will give ear to the voice of the Lord; for he will say words of peace to his people and to his saints; but let them not go back to their foolish ways.

9 Truly, his salvation is near to his worshippers; so that glory may be in our land.

10 Mercy and faith have come together; righteousness and peace have given one another a kiss.

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.