Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 85 (MT) / Psalm 84 (LXX) is a Korahite restoration-psalm — recalling past-divine-restoration (vv. 1–3), petitioning present-revival (vv. 4–7), and envisioning the coming-restoration (vv. 8–13). Verse 10's personification of four divine-attributes — 'steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other' — is one of the Psalter's most-celebrated poetic images, central to medieval allegorical-theology as 'the Four Daughters of God.' The psalm's closing 'righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way' (v. 13) Christologically anticipates the incarnation's walking-path.
Notable Variants
85:10 'mercy and truth meet; righteousness and peace kiss' as four-divine-attributes allegory; 85:8 'I will hear what God the LORD will speak' as contemplative-listening posture; 85:11 'truth springs out of the earth' anticipating incarnation (cf. John 1:14's 'the Word became flesh').
Structural Notes
MT Ps 85 = LXX Ps 84. 13 verses (MT/LXX), 13 verses (English).
For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. A psalm.
Superscription tracks MT.
O LORD, You showed favor to Your land; You restored the fortunes of Jacob.
'LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob' tracks MT. Past-restoration remembered — the return-from-exile framework.
You forgave the guilt of Your people; You covered all their sin. Selah.
'You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin' tracks MT. FORGAVE-AND-COVERED. The forgive-cover pairing: nasa (forgive/bear) + kasa (cover) — the same theological-pair as Ps 32:1 (Rom 4:7).
You withdrew all Your fury; You turned from Your burning anger.
'You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger' tracks MT.
Restore us, O God of our salvation, and put an end to Your displeasure with us.
'Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!' tracks MT. RESTORE-US-AGAIN petition — echoing Ps 80's refrain. Present-situation requires fresh-restoration even after past-restoration.
Will You be angry with us forever? Will You extend Your anger to every generation?
'Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?' tracks MT.
Will You not revive us again, so that Your people may rejoice in You?
'Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?' tracks MT. REVIVE-AGAIN theology — spiritual-renewal as divine-action. Hosea 6:2 ('after two days he will revive us') develops with resurrection-echo.
Show us Your faithful love, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation.
'Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation' tracks MT.
Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people, to His faithful ones — but let them not return to foolishness.
'Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly' tracks MT. LISTENING-FOR-DIVINE-WORD. The contemplative-turn: the psalmist stops-speaking to HEAR. 1 Samuel 3:10's 'speak, for your servant hears' and Elijah's 'still small voice' (1 Kgs 19:12) share the listening-posture.
Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land.
'Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land' tracks MT. GLORY-DWELLING-IN-THE-LAND theology — divine-glory-localized. John 1:14 ('the Word became flesh and DWELT AMONG US, and we have seen HIS GLORY,' kai eskēnōsen en hēmin, kai etheasametha tēn doxan autou) Christologically fulfills.
Faithful love and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.
'Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other' tracks MT. THE FOUR DIVINE ATTRIBUTES. The personification — chesed (mercy), emet (truth), tzedeq (righteousness), shalom (peace) — became the medieval 'Four Daughters of God' allegory (e.g., Piers Plowman, Luther, Anselm). In theological-debate about the Atonement: Mercy and Truth seem-opposed, Righteousness and Peace seem-opposed; their MEETING-AND-KISSING at the incarnation resolves the apparent-contradiction. The verse thus became atonement-theology shorthand for incarnational-reconciliation.
Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
'Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky' tracks MT. TRUTH-FROM-EARTH / RIGHTEOUSNESS-FROM-HEAVEN. The incarnational-geometry — truth rising from below meeting righteousness coming from above. Patristic-allegory saw this as incarnation-image: truth (Christ's humanity) rises from the earth (Mary's womb) and meets righteousness (Christ's divinity) descending from heaven.
The LORD Himself will give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
'Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase' tracks MT. HARVEST-BLESSING.
Righteousness goes before Him and prepares the way for His steps.
'Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way' tracks MT. FOOTSTEPS-A-WAY. John 14:6 ('I am the WAY, and the truth, and the life') Christologically extends: Christ IS the path-of-righteousness. 1 Peter 2:21 ('Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps') makes the Christ-footsteps the path for disciples.