1 [[To the chief Musician, H5329 A Psalm H4210 for the sons H1121 of Korah.]] H7141 LORD, H3068 thou hast been favourable H7521 unto thy land: H776 thou hast brought back H7725 the captivity H7622 H7622 of Jacob. H3290
2 Thou hast forgiven H5375 the iniquity H5771 of thy people, H5971 thou hast covered H3680 all their sin. H2403 Selah. H5542
3 Thou hast taken away H622 all thy wrath: H5678 thou hast turned H7725 thyself from the fierceness H2740 of thine anger. H639
4 Turn H7725 us, O God H430 of our salvation, H3468 and cause thine anger H3708 toward us to cease. H6565
5 Wilt thou be angry H599 with us for ever? H5769 wilt thou draw out H4900 thine anger H639 to all H1755 generations? H1755
6 Wilt thou not revive H2421 us again: H7725 that thy people H5971 may rejoice H8055 in thee?
7 Shew H7200 us thy mercy, H2617 O LORD, H3068 and grant H5414 us thy salvation. H3468
8 I will hear H8085 what God H410 the LORD H3068 will speak: H1696 for he will speak H1696 peace H7965 unto his people, H5971 and to his saints: H2623 but let them not turn again H7725 to folly. H3690
9 Surely his salvation H3468 is nigh H7138 them that fear H3373 him; that glory H3519 may dwell H7931 in our land. H776
10 Mercy H2617 and truth H571 are met together; H6298 righteousness H6664 and peace H7965 have kissed H5401 each other.
11 Truth H571 shall spring out H6779 of the earth; H776 and righteousness H6664 shall look down H8259 from heaven. H8064
12 Yea, the LORD H3068 shall give H5414 that which is good; H2896 and our land H776 shall yield H5414 her increase. H2981
13 Righteousness H6664 shall go H1980 before H6440 him; and shall set H7760 us in the way H1870 of his steps. H6471
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 85
Commentary on Psalms 85 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 85
Ps 85:1-13. On the ground of former mercies, the Psalmist prays for renewed blessings, and, confidently expecting them, rejoices.
1. captivity—not necessarily the Babylonian, but any great evil (Ps 14:7).
2, 3. (Compare Ps 32:1-5).
3. To turn from the "fierceness," implies that He was reconcilable, though
4-7. having still occasion for the anger which is deprecated.
5. draw out—or, "prolong" (Ps 36:10).
8. He is confident God will favor His penitent people (Ps 51:17; 80:18).
saints—as in Ps 4:3, the "godly."
9. They are here termed "them that fear him"; and grace produces glory (Ps 84:11).
10. God's promises of "mercy" will be verified by His "truth" (compare Ps 25:10; 40:10); and the "work of righteousness" in His holy government shall be "peace" (Isa 32:17). There is an implied contrast with a dispensation under which God's truth sustains His threatened wrath, and His righteousness inflicts misery on the wicked.
11. Earth and heaven shall abound with the blessings of this government;
12, 13. and, under this, the deserted land shall be productive, and men be "set," or guided in God's holy ways. Doubtless, in this description of God's returning favor, the writer had in view that more glorious period, when Christ shall establish His government on God's reconciled justice and abounding mercy.