Psalms 85:1-10

1 You favored your land, O LORD. You restored the fortunes of Jacob.

2 You removed your people's guilt. You pardoned all their sins.

3 You laid aside all your fury. You turned away from your burning anger.

4 Restore us, O God, our savior. Put an end to your anger against us.

5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you ever let go of your anger in the generations to come?

6 Won't you restore our lives again so that your people may find joy in you?

7 Show us your mercy, O LORD, by giving us your salvation.

8 I want to hear what God the LORD says, because he promises peace to his people, to his godly ones. But they must not go back to their stupidity.

9 Indeed, his salvation is near those who fear him, and [his] glory will remain in our land.

10 Mercy 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.