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Psalms 85

BSB·13 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1You showed favorרָצִ֣יתָrā·ṣî·ṯā — to accept, be pleased with, delight inH7521 — Full Word Study → to Your landאַרְצֶ֑ךָ’ar·ṣe·ḵā — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →; You restoredשַׁ֝֗בְתָּšab̲·tā — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → Jacobיַעֲקֹֽב׃ya·‘ă·qōḇ — He grasps the heelH3290 — Full Word Study → from captivityשְׁבוּתšə·ḇūṯ — Captivity, exile, or the state of being taken captiveH7622 — Full Word Study →. 2You forgaveנָ֭שָׂאתָnā·śā·ṯā — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → the iniquityעֲוֺ֣ן‘ă·wōn — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study → of Your peopleעַמֶּ֑ךָ‘am·me·ḵā — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →; You coveredכִּסִּ֖יתָkis·sî·ṯā — to cover, conceal, hideH3680 — Full Word Study → allכָל־ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → their sinחַטָּאתָ֣םḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯām — sin; sin offering; sinfulnessH2403 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 3You withheldאָסַ֥פְתָּ’ā·sap̄·tā — to gather, assemble, collectH622 — Full Word Study → allכָל־ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → Your furyעֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ‘eḇ·rā·ṯe·ḵā — Fury, rage, intense angerH5678 — Full Word Study →; You turned fromהֱ֝שִׁיב֗וֹתָhĕ·šî·ḇō·w·ṯā — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → Your burning angerמֵחֲר֥וֹןmê·ḥă·rō·wn — Burning anger, fierce wrathH2740 — Full Word Study →. 4Restore usשׁ֭וּבֵנוּšû·b̲ē·nû — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י’ĕ·lō·hê — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → of our salvationיִשְׁעֵ֑נוּyiš·‘ê·nū — Salvation, deliverance, safetyH3468 — Full Word Study →, and put awayוְהָפֵ֖רwə·hā·p̄êr — To break, violate, or frustrate; to nullify or make voidH6565 — Full Word Study → Your displeasureכַּֽעַסְךָ֣ka·‘as·ḵā — Vexation, provocation, or irritation that stirs angerH3708 — Full Word Study → toward usעִמָּֽנוּ׃‘im·mā·nū — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study →. 5Will You be angryתֶּֽאֱנַף־te·’ĕ·nap̄- — to be angry, to be displeased, to snort in angerH599 — Full Word Study → with us foreverהַלְעוֹלָ֥םhal·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →? Will You draw outתִּמְשֹׁ֥ךְtim·šōḵ — to draw, pull, extend, or prolongH4900 — Full Word Study → Your angerאַ֝פְּךָ֗’ap·pə·ḵā — Anger, wrath, face, or noseH639 — Full Word Study → to allלְדֹ֣רlə·ḏōr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study → generationsוָדֹֽר׃wā·ḏōr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study →? 6Will Youאַ֭תָּה’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → notהֲֽלֹא־hă·lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → revive usתְּחַיֵּ֑נוּtə·ḥay·yê·nū — To live, to preserve alive, to give lifeH2421 — Full Word Study → againתָּשׁ֣וּבtā·šūḇ — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study →, that Your peopleוְ֝עַמְּךָ֗wə·‘am·mə·ḵā — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → may rejoiceיִשְׂמְחוּ־yiś·mə·ḥū- — To rejoice, be glad, make merryH8055 — Full Word Study → in You? 7Show usהַרְאֵ֣נוּhar·’ê·nū — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → Your loving devotionחַסְדֶּ֑ךָḥas·de·ḵā — Covenant loyalty and steadfast kindnessH2617 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, and grantתִּתֶּן־tit·ten- — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → us Your salvationוְ֝יֶשְׁעֲךָ֗wə·yeš·‘ă·ḵā — Salvation, deliverance, safetyH3468 — Full Word Study →. 8I will listenאֶשְׁמְעָ֗ה’eš·mə·‘āh — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study → to whatמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → Godהָאֵ֪ל׀hā·’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְה֫וָ֥הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → will sayיְדַבֵּר֮yə·ḏab·bêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study →; forכִּ֤י׀kî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → He will surely speakיְדַבֵּ֬רyə·ḏab·bêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → peaceשָׁל֗וֹםšā·lō·wm — Peace, wholeness, well-being, prosperityH7965 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → His peopleעַמּ֥וֹ‘am·mōw — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → andוְאֶל־wə·’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → His saintsחֲסִידָ֑יוḥă·sî·ḏāw — The pious one; one characterized by faithfulness and covenant loyaltyH2623 — Full Word Study →; He will notוְֽאַל־wə·’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → let them returnיָשׁ֥וּבוּyā·šū·ḇū — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → to follyלְכִסְלָֽה׃lə·ḵis·lāh — Confidence, trust, or foolish presumptionH3690 — Full Word Study →. 9Surelyאַ֤ךְ׀’aḵ — Surely, certainly, only, neverthelessH389 — Full Word Study → His salvationיִשְׁע֑וֹyiš·‘ōw — Salvation, deliverance, safetyH3468 — Full Word Study → is near to those who fear Himלִירֵאָ֣יוlî·rê·’āw — to fear, be afraid, dreadH3373 — Full Word Study →, that His gloryכָּב֣וֹדkā·ḇō·wḏ — weightiness, honor, splendor, gloryH3519 — Full Word Study → may dwellלִשְׁכֹּ֖ןliš·kōn — To dwell, inhabit, or settle in a placeH7931 — Full Word Study → in our landבְּאַרְצֵֽנוּ׃bə·’ar·ṣê·nū — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →. 10Loving devotionחֶֽסֶד־ḥe·seḏ- — Covenant loyalty and steadfast kindnessH2617 — Full Word Study → and faithfulnessוֶאֱמֶ֥תwe·’ĕ·meṯ — Truth; faithfulness; reliability; what is established and sureH571 — Full Word Study → have joined togetherנִפְגָּ֑שׁוּnip̄·gā·šū — To meet, encounter, or come togetherH6298 — Full Word Study →; righteousnessצֶ֖דֶקṣe·ḏeq — Righteousness, justice, right standingH6664 — Full Word Study → and peaceוְשָׁל֣וֹםwə·šā·lō·wm — Peace, wholeness, well-being, prosperityH7965 — Full Word Study → have kissedנָשָֽׁקוּ׃nā·šā·qū — To kiss; to touch; to equip with weaponsH5401 — Full Word Study →. 11Faithfulnessאֱ֭מֶת’ĕ·meṯ — Truth; faithfulness; reliability; what is established and sureH571 — Full Word Study → sproutsתִּצְמָ֑חtiṣ·māḥ — to sprout, grow, or spring upH6779 — Full Word Study → from the earthמֵאֶ֣רֶץmê·’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →, and righteousnessוְ֝צֶ֗דֶקwə·ṣe·ḏeq — Righteousness, justice, right standingH6664 — Full Word Study → looks downנִשְׁקָֽף׃niš·qāp̄ — to look out, gaze upon, appearH8259 — Full Word Study → from heavenמִשָּׁמַ֥יִםmiš·šā·ma·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study →. 12The LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → will indeedגַּם־gam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → provide what is goodיִתֵּ֣ןyit·tên — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study →, and our landוְ֝אַרְצֵ֗נוּwə·’ar·ṣê·nū — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → will yieldתִּתֵּ֥ןtit·tên — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → its increaseיְבוּלָֽהּ׃yə·ḇū·lāh — Agricultural produce; the yield or harvest of cropsH2981 — Full Word Study →. 13Righteousnessצֶ֭דֶקṣe·ḏeq — Righteousness, justice, right standingH6664 — Full Word Study → will goיְהַלֵּ֑ךְyə·hal·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → before Himלְפָנָ֣יוlə·p̄ā·nāw — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → to prepareוְיָשֵׂ֖םwə·yā·śêm — to put, place, set, appointH7760 — Full Word Study → the wayלְדֶ֣רֶךְlə·ḏe·reḵ — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study → for His stepsפְּעָמָֽיו׃pə·‘ā·māw — time, occasion, or instance of occurrenceH6471 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 85
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 85 is a corporate prayer of thanksgiving and intercession, likely written after the people of Israel experienced God's restoration—possibly following the exile. The psalm celebrates God's past mercies while humbly asking Him to complete the work of restoration and renewal in the nation's life. Throughout, the psalmist moves from remembering God's faithfulness, to confessing the need for His continued intervention, to the confident assurance that God will bring peace and blessing to His land and people. This is a psalm about redemption both received and awaited.

Verses 1–3: Remembering God's Past Faithfulness

The psalm opens with joyful commemoration of what God has already done. In verse 1, the writer recalls that the Lord has been favorable to the land and has brought back the captivity of Jacob—a clear reference to restoration from exile. Verses 2–3 extend this gratitude: God has forgiven iniquity, covered sin, and turned away His wrath. The language is deliberately comprehensive—all their sin is covered, and the fierceness of His anger has been withdrawn. This is the foundation of the entire psalm: the psalmist begins not with complaint, but with grateful remembrance of God's mercy already experienced. For believers today, this reminds us that thanksgiving for past deliverances strengthens our faith for present needs.

Verses 4–7: Interceding for Continued Restoration

Though God has done great things, the psalmist recognizes the work is incomplete. In verses 4–5, there is an urgent petition: Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. The repeated question Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? expresses both anxiety and hope—anxiety that judgment might continue, but hope implicit in the prayer itself that God will relent. Verse 6 makes the longing explicit: the people desire to be revived again so they may rejoice in thee. Verse 7 summarizes the prayer: Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. This section teaches us that biblical faith is not passive. Even when we've experienced God's goodness, we are called to persistently seek His face and intercede for His continued work in our lives and communities.

Verses 8–13: The Promise of Peace and Blessing

The tone shifts in verse 8 from petition to listening: I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people. The psalmist's intercession is answered with an assurance of peace. Verse 9 declares that salvation is near those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land. The magnificent verses 10–11 paint a beautiful picture of divine reconciliation: Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. These are not abstract virtues but personal attributes of God meeting together in His redemptive work. Truth springs from the earth (God's promises fulfilled in history), while righteousness looks down from heaven (God's character and justice). Verses 12–13 conclude with the promise of fruitfulness and divine guidance: the Lord will give what is good, the land will be productive, and righteousness shall go before him. This is the vision of a community restored, blessed, and walking in the way of God's steps.

Application for Today

Psalm 85 invites us to live between remembrance and hope. Recall God's faithfulness in your own life and church history, but do not rest passively in past blessings. Intercede earnestly for God's continued work—in your heart, family, church, and nation. Listen expectantly for God's word of peace, and trust that His mercy and truth, His righteousness and peace, truly do work together for the blessing of those who fear Him. As you walk with Him, you too shall be set in the way of His steps.

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