1 To the chief musician; for the sons of Korah, a psalm.
2 Thou hast been favorable, O Jehovah, to thy land; thou hast turned the captivity of Jacob;
3 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people; thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
4 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath; thou hast turned, from the fierceness of thine anger.
5 Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine indignation toward us to cease.
6 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? Wilt thou draw out thine anger from generation to generation
7 Wilt thou not revive us again, that thy people may rejoice in thee?
8 Show us thy mercy, O Jehovah, and grant us thy salvation.
9 I will hear what God (El) Jehovah will speak; for he will speak peace to his people and to his saints; but let them not turn again to folly.
10 Surely (or Only) his salvation [is] near those that fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
11 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.
12 Truth shall spring up from the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
13 Jehovah also will give good; and our land shall yield its increase.
14 Righteousness shall go before him, and shall set his footsteps in the way.
Notes on Psalm 85
This too is “To the chief musician, tor toe sons at Korah, a psalm.” The psalm looks rather at the blessing of the land and people than at the religious center of Jehovah’s name or the way thither. Deliverance from external foes attests the people’s forgiveness, and leads them to seek all favor in that place of blessing, above all in hearing what the God Jehovah may speak. For He will speak peace to His people and to His saints, publicly and individually, though they need to watch against folly, as becomes those who by grace now understand. It is instructive to note how truly the psalm speaks of Israel as contrasted with church or Christian blessedness. “Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land;” not that they may “ever be with the Lord” in risen heavenly glory, as we rightly hope. But for them, as for us, it is the righteousness of God that gives stability, not their own (though they will be righteous then) but His, or more strictly have Jehovah their righteousness. Thus only are mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace embrace, as we now know in Christ vet more gloriously.