Psalms
Chapter 85
This psalm looks back at a time when God forgave his people and brought them home from captivity. Then it turns to the present and asks God to restore them again and to stop being angry. The second half is an answer: God will speak peace, and love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace will meet in the land. It closes with a picture of good harvests and of righteousness walking ahead of God like a road being prepared.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
1LORD, you were kind to your land. You brought the people of Jacob back from the land where they were held captive.
"Jacob" here means the whole nation of Israel, who were descended from a man named Jacob.
2Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
2You forgave your people for the wrong they did. You covered over all their sin. Selah.
"Selah" is a word left untranslated in most Bibles. It may be a musical direction, such as a pause or a change in the music.
3Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
3You put away all your fury. You turned away from your burning anger.
4Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
4Bring us back to you, God our Savior. Stop being displeased with us.
5Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
5Will you stay angry with us forever? Will you keep your anger going for all time?
6Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
6Will you not give us life again, so your people can be glad because of you?
7Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
7Show us your faithful love, LORD, and save us.
The KJV word "mercy" here is a Hebrew word for loyal, steadfast love that keeps its promises. It is stronger than just feeling sorry for someone.
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.
8I will listen to what God the LORD says. He will speak peace to his people, the ones set apart for him. But they must not go back to foolish ways.
9Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
9God is surely close to saving those who honor him. Then his glory will live in our land.
10Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
10Faithful love and truth have come together. Righteousness and peace have greeted each other with a kiss.
11Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
11Truth will grow up out of the ground, and righteousness will look down from heaven.
12Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
12Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will produce a full harvest.
13Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
13Righteousness will walk ahead of him and make a path for his steps.
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