Psalm 85:1-9

1 Lord, you have been merciful to your land; you have made Israel prosperous again.

2 You have forgiven your people's sins and pardoned all their wrongs.

3 You stopped being angry with them and held back your furious rage.

4 Bring us back, O God our savior, and stop being displeased with us!

5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will your anger never cease?

6 Make us strong again, and we, your people, will praise you.

7 Show us your constant love, O Lord, and give us your saving help.

8 I am listening to what the Lord God is saying; he promises peace to us, his own people, if we do not go back to our foolish ways.

9 Surely he is ready to save those who honor him, and his saving presence will remain 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.