Psalms 85

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 85

1¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

2Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.

3Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned [thyself] from the fierceness of thine anger.

4Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

5Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?

6Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7Shew 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.

9Surely his salvation [is] nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

10Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other].

11Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12Yea, the LORD shall give [that which is] good; and our land shall yield her increase.

13Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set [us] in the way of his steps.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Psalms 85 opens with a remembrance of God's past favor, where He restored Jacob's captivity and forgave their iniquity. The psalmist then earnestly pleads for God to turn from His anger, revive His people, and show mercy. The psalm concludes with an expectation of God speaking peace, where divine attributes like mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace converge, leading to prosperity and guidance.

Medium Summary

The psalm opens by acknowledging God's past benevolence towards His land, specifically His act of bringing back Jacob's captivity and fully forgiving their sins, thereby removing His fierce wrath. This remembrance transitions into a fervent prayer, imploring God to cease His anger, revive His people, and grant them salvation so they may rejoice. The psalmist then resolves to listen for God's word, anticipating that He will speak peace to His saints, provided they do not revert to folly. The chapter culminates in a vivid depiction of salvation being near to those who fear God, where mercy and truth meet, and righteousness and peace embrace. This divine harmony is expected to bring forth truth from the earth and righteousness from heaven, ensuring the Lord's goodness and the land's increase, with righteousness guiding the way.

Long Summary

Psalms 85 commences with an expression of gratitude and remembrance for God's past acts of favor towards His land and people. The psalmist recalls how the Lord had graciously brought back the captivity of Jacob, demonstrating His profound mercy by forgiving all their iniquity and covering their sin. Furthermore, God had entirely removed His wrath, turning from the fierceness of His anger. Building upon this historical precedent of divine benevolence, the psalm transitions into an earnest supplication. The people cry out to God, their salvation, to turn them and cause His anger to cease, questioning if His wrath will endure forever or through all generations. They plead for revival, desiring to rejoice in Him once more, and for the manifestation of His mercy and salvation. The psalmist then declares a commitment to listen for God's voice, confident that the Lord will speak peace to His people and saints, yet with a crucial caveat: that they must not return to folly. The psalm culminates in a prophetic vision of future restoration and harmony, asserting that God's salvation is nigh to those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in the land. This future is characterized by a profound meeting of divine attributes: Mercy and Truth are depicted as having met, and Righteousness and Peace as having kissed each other. Truth is envisioned springing forth from the earth, while Righteousness looks down from heaven, signifying a complete alignment of divine and earthly realms. The chapter concludes with the assurance that the Lord shall give that which is good, causing the land to yield its increase, and that Righteousness itself shall precede Him, setting the people in the way of His steps.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Favor and RestorationThe psalm begins by acknowledging God's past actions of bringing back the captivity of Jacob and forgiving the iniquity of His people, demonstrating His benevolent disposition and removal of wrath.
  • Plea for RevivalThe people earnestly pray for God to turn from His anger, to revive them again, and to grant His mercy and salvation. This highlights a desire for renewed spiritual and national vitality.
  • God's Peace and SalvationThe psalmist expresses an expectation that God will speak peace to His people and saints, and an assurance that His salvation is near to those who fear Him.
  • Avoiding FollyA crucial condition for receiving God's peace is stated: that His people must not turn again to folly. This emphasizes the need for continued obedience and wisdom.
  • Meeting of Divine AttributesThe psalm uses vivid poetic imagery to describe Mercy and Truth meeting, and Righteousness and Peace kissing each other. This signifies a harmonious convergence of God's character traits in His dealings with humanity.
  • Truth and Righteousness ManifestTruth is depicted springing out of the earth and Righteousness looking down from heaven, illustrating the pervasive presence and impact of these virtues in a restored land.
  • Prosperity and Divine GuidanceThe chapter concludes with the promise that the Lord shall give good things and the land shall yield its increase, with Righteousness going before Him to guide the people in His steps.