Psalms 85
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Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Psalm 85:1-13
Revive Us Again
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
3You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
4Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
5Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
7Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
9Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
10Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Psalm 85:1-13
Psalm 85
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2You forgave the iniquity of your people
and covered all their sins.
3You set aside all your wrath
and turned from your fierce anger.
4Restore us again, God our Savior,
and put away your displeasure toward us.
5Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
7Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.
9Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12The Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
13Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
In beautiful terms, Psalms 85 describes the salvation God brings to His people. At the heart of Psalm 85 is verse 10, “Loving kindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” It might seem that mercy and truth are set against each other with mercy looking to grant pardons and truth determined to condemn. And they are. But God developed the plan of salvation which would meet the demands of both mercy and truth. The demands of the law and the penalty of sin are fulfilled in Jesus’ death on the cross. The demands of mercy are fulfilled in God’s abundant forgiveness and grace, purchased by Jesus’ death on the cross. Implementing God’s great plan of salvation, mercy and truth have met together and kissed. All I can say is, Thank you, Lord, for Jesus and His great gift to humanity.
Laura Hamilton
Retired chemical engineer, Colorado, USA (as of this writing)
