Psalm 85:1-9

Restoration of Favor

For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 Lord, You showed favor to Your land;^[a] You restored Jacob's prosperity.^{[b] [c]}

2 You took away Your people's guilt; You covered all their sin.^[d] Selah

3 You withdrew all Your fury; You turned from Your burning anger.^[e]

4 Return to us, God of our salvation,^[f] and abandon Your displeasure with us.

5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger for all generations?^[g]

6 Will You not revive us again^[h] so that Your people may rejoice in You?^[i]

7 Show us Your faithful love, Lord, and give us Your salvation.

8 I will listen to what God will say; surely the Lord will declare peace to His people, His godly ones, and not let them go back to foolish ways.

9 His salvation is very near those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land.

Psalm 85:1-9 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] Lv 25:23; Dt 33:13
• [b] Or restored Jacob from captivity
• [c] Ps 14:7; Dt 30:3; Jr 29:14
• [d] Ps 32:1,5; Ex 34:7; Nm 14:18
• [e] Ps 69:24; Jr 30:24; Lm 4:11
• [f] Ps 27:9; 79:9; Mc 7:7
• [g] Jr 17:4
• [h] Ps 71:20; 143:11; Hs 6:2
• [i] Ps 40:16; 70:4; 118:24
• [j] Zch 9:10