Psalms 85:1-10

1 {To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.} Thou hast been favourable, Jehovah, unto thy land; thou hast turned the captivity of Jacob:

2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people; thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.

3 Thou hast withdrawn all thy wrath; thou hast turned from the fierceness of thine anger.

4 Bring us back, O God of our salvation, and cause thine indignation toward us to cease.

5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger from generation to generation?

6 Wilt thou not revive us again, that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7 Shew us thy loving-kindness, O Jehovah, and grant us thy salvation.

8 I will hear what God, Jehovah, will speak; for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his godly ones: but let them not turn again to folly.

9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.

10 Loving-kindness and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other:

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'saints' (chasid): see Note c and 2 Chron. 6.41,42.