Psalms 85:5-13

5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?

6 Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?

7 Show us Your mercy, Lord, And grant us Your salvation.

8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly.

9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.

10 Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.

11 Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase.

13 Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway.

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.