Psalms 85
What Happens in This Chapter
This psalm remembers a time when God forgave his people and brought them home. Then it asks God to help them again and to stop being angry. The last part promises peace, good crops, and God's love and truth meeting together.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
1Lord, you have been good to your land. You brought Jacob's people home again.
2Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
2You forgave the wrong things your people did. You covered all their sin. Selah.
"Selah" is a word left in from the old songbook. It may have marked a pause in the music.
3Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
3You put all your anger away. You turned back 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 who saves us. Please stop being upset 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 your anger last for all time?
6Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
6Will you not give us new life? Then your people can be glad in you.
7Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
7Show us your faithful love, Lord. Please save us.
The old English word here is "mercy." It means God's strong, faithful love that does not give up.
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. He speaks peace to those who belong to him. He will not let them go back to foolish ways.
9Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
9He is ready to save those who honor him. Then his shining glory will live in our land.
"Fear him" does not mean being scared of God. It means honoring him with deep respect.
10Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
10Love and truth have come together. Doing right and living in peace have kissed.
11Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
11Truth will grow up out of the ground. Doing right 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. Our land will grow plenty of food.
13Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
13Doing right will walk ahead of God. It will make a path for his steps.
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