Psalms 85:5-13

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.

11 Truth sprouts from the ground, and righteousness looks down from heaven.

12 The LORD will certainly give us what is good, and our land will produce crops.

13 Righteousness will go ahead of him and make a path for his steps.

Psalms 85:5-13 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.