Psalm 85

Good News Translation

A Prayer for the Nation's Welfare^[a]

85 Lord, you have been merciful to your land;
    you have made Israel prosperous again.
²You have forgiven your people's sins
    and pardoned all their wrongs.
³You stopped being angry with them
    and held back your furious rage.

⁴Bring us back, O God our savior,
    and stop being displeased with us!
⁵Will you be angry with us forever?
    Will your anger never cease?
⁶Make us strong again,
    and we, your people, will praise you.
⁷Show us your constant love, O Lord,
    and give us your saving help.

⁸I am listening to what the Lord God is saying;
    he promises peace to us, his own people,
    if we do not go back to our foolish ways.
⁹Surely he is ready to save those who honor him,
    and his saving presence will remain in our land.

¹⁰Love and faithfulness will meet;
    righteousness and peace will embrace.
¹¹Human loyalty will reach up from the earth,
    and God's righteousness will look down from heaven.
¹²The Lord will make us prosperous,
    and our land will produce rich harvests.
¹³Righteousness will go before the Lord
    and prepare the path for him.