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Psalm chapter 85

English Standard Version

1 Lord, 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. 4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! 5 Will 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. 8 Let 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. 10 Steadfast 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. 13 Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.
New International Version

1For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. You, 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.
New American Standard Bible

1Lord, You showed favor to Your land; You restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2You forgave the guilt of Your people; You covered all their sin. Selah 3You withdrew all Your fury; You turned away from Your burning anger. 4Restore us, God of our salvation, And cause Your indignation toward us to cease. 5Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? 6Will You not revive us again, So that Your people may rejoice in You? 7Show us Your mercy, Lord, And grant us Your salvation. 8 I will hear what God the Lord will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; And may they not turn back to foolishness. 9Certainly His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. 10Graciousness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth sprouts from the earth, And righteousness looks down from heaven. 12Indeed, the Lord will give what is good, And our land will yield its produce. 13Righteousness will go before Him And will make His footsteps into a way.
Christian Standard Bible

1For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Lord, you showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2You forgave your people’s guilt; you covered all their sin. Selah
3You withdrew all your fury; you turned from your burning anger. 4Return to us, God of our salvation, and abandon your displeasure with us. 5Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger for all generations? 6Will you not revive us again so that your people may rejoice in you?
7Show us your faithful love, Lord, and give us your salvation. 8I will listen to what God will say; surely the Lord will declare peace to his people, his faithful ones, and not let them go back to foolish ways.
9His salvation is very near those who fear him, so that glory may dwell in our land. 10Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace. 11Truth will spring up from the earth, and righteousness will look down from heaven. 12Also, the Lord will provide what is good, and our land will yield its crops. 13Righteousness will go before him to prepare the way for his steps.
New Living Translation

1Lord, you poured out blessings on your land! You restored the fortunes of Israel.
2You forgave the guilt of your people — yes, you covered all their sins. Interlude 3You held back your fury. You kept back your blazing anger.
4Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more. 5Will you be angry with us always? Will you prolong your wrath to all generations? 6Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you? 7Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
8I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways. 9Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, so our land will be filled with his glory.
10Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed! 11Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven. 12Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings. Our land will yield its bountiful harvest. 13Righteousness goes as a herald before him, preparing the way for his steps.
King James Version

1To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Lord, thou hast been favorable 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 forever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7Show us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.
8I 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.
New King James Version

1{To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.} Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah
3You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger. 4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease. 5 Will 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 mercy, Lord, And grant us Your salvation. 8I 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. 9Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. 10Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. 11Truth 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. 13Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway.

What does Psalm chapter 85 mean?

This psalm is not explicitly tied to a single event. However, early references connect the Lord's forgiveness to the restoration of Israel. This may suggest the return from captivity as described in the book of Ezra. The Sons of Korah are also mentioned in psalms 42, 44—49, 84, and 87—88. This group was influential in worship in the temple during the era of David and Solomon. They may have been descendants of an infamous family punished during the exodus from Egypt (Numbers 26:9–11).

First, the psalmist connects the Lord's forgiveness and mercy with a restoration of the land of Israel. This rejuvenation of the nation of Israel may point to a time after the Babylonian exile (Ezra 2:1). Psalms set during times of suffering often speak of God's continuing wrath and anger against His people (Psalm 79:5; 80:4). Here, it seems that recovery from misfortune is associated with His compassion (Psalm 85:1–3).

Next, the song asks the Lord to repeat the previous blessing. This passage uses terms such as "restore," "salvation," and "revive." Israel's history was filled with cycles of faith, rebellion, suffering, and restoration (Judges 2:16–19). The psalmist may see this pattern beginning again; that may include sin as well as its consequences for the nation. The prayer here is for the Lord to forgive the people's sins and bring them back into fellowship with Him (Psalm 85:4–7).

Finally, there is a promise to hear God's word. This comes with an expectation of the Lord's blessing. This segment depicts intersections between some of God's attributes, such as lovingkindness, faithfulness or truth (NASB), righteousness, and peace. The idea of righteousness and peace "kissing" forms a word-picture of Christ's eventual work as the perfect sacrifice. In response to sin, God's perfect justice and His perfect love intersect at exactly one place: the cross where Jesus paid for humanity's sins (Romans 5:8; Hebrews 10:12–14). The psalm doesn't directly speak of the Messiah, but it foreshadows an important facet of His ministry (Psalm 85:8–13).
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