The big picture
Psalms 85 opens in verse 1 with “LORD , thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “Shew us thy mercy, O LORD , and grant us thy salvation.”, and closes in verse 13 with “Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, anger, land, people, righteousness. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 13Psalms 85:1-7
1–7: LORD , thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back…
Psalms 85:1–7 opens with “LORD , thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.” and reaches “Shew us thy mercy, O LORD , and grant us thy salvation.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by anger, LORD, people.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“LORD , thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.” Naming Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 85:1-7
King James Version1LORD , thou hast been favourable 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 for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7Shew us thy mercy, O LORD , and grant us thy salvation.
Psalms 85:8-13
8–13: I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto…
Psalms 85:8–13 opens with “I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his…” and reaches “Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by righteousness, land, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
Psalms 85:8-13
King James Version8I 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 85:1 begins with “LORD , thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 85:6 forms a natural hinge: “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?”
The final note
Psalms 85:13 leaves the reader with “Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, anger, land, people, righteousness, salvation help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.