Psalms Chapter 85: Analysis, Key Verses and Catholic Reflection

Psalms 85 sits within the poetic books of the Bible, a collection renowned for prayerful dialogue with God, rich imagery, and enduring themes of mercy, justice, and hope. In the NABRE, this psalm blends penitential confession with confident trust in God’s mercy after distress and exile. It moves from lament to assurance, culminating in a vision where truth and mercy meet and righteousness and peace kiss. As with many of the psalms, Ps 85 nourishes both personal devotion and communal worship, serving as a bridge between repentance and the anticipated restoration proclaimed in Israel’s faith. Its resonance invites readers to respond with faith and praise.

Text and Context of Ps 85

Ps 85 is a communal prayer that speaks in the voice of the people of Israel, addressing Yahweh with gratitude for past mercy while petitioning for present forgiveness and renewal. It is commonly understood as a hymn of restoration, likely set in the aftermath of distress or exile, when the community longs for God to turn away anger and to revive their land. The psalm traces a movement from acknowledging sin and divine wrath to pleading for revival and finally to a confident affirmation that God’s mercy and truth will prevail, bringing righteousness and peace to the community. In its structure, the text shifts from lament to a generated hope anchored in God’s salvific action.

Key Verses of Ps 85

Ps 85:1 — LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land

LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

The verse recalls a prior gift of mercy to Israel, framing the prayer in gratitude for God’s past fidelity. It situates the psalm within a narrative of restoration and divine compassion. The theological emphasis is on divine faithfulness as the basis for hope in the present petition.

Ps 85:2 — Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people

Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people; thou hast covered all their sins.

This verse foregrounds forgiveness as the core act of God’s mercy. It acknowledges communal sin and God’s gracious covering of transgression. The verse moves the reader toward trust in God’s reconciliatory power.

Ps 85:3 — Thou hast withdrawn all thy wrath

Thou hast withdrawn all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.

The verse depicts a turning away of divine anger, signaling the possibility of renewed relationship. It affirms God’s self-limitation of wrath in order to restore the covenant. The language invites the faithful to expect peace and restoration rather than punishment.

Ps 85:6 — Wilt thou not revive us again

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

Verse 6 expresses yearning for spiritual renewal and communal joy in God. It frames revival as a gift that enables the people to rejoice in the Lord. The verse anchors the psalm’s forward-looking hope amidst lament and petition.

Ps 85:8 — I will hear what God the LORD will speak

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 turn again to folly.

This verse marks a shift toward listening and obedience. It asserts that God’s speech brings peace to the faithful and discourages turning back to folly. Theologically, it emphasizes divine initiative in granting reconciliation and order to the community.

Ps 85:10 — Mercy and truth are met together

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.

Verse 10 presents a poetic convergence of divine attributes: mercy with truth, righteousness with peace. It envisions a harmonious reconciliation where ethical fidelity and mercy coexist. The image of a kiss between righteousness and peace signals deep, transformative harmony in God’s policy toward his people.

Ps 85:11 — Truth shall spring out of the earth

Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

The verse evokes an eschatological expectation: truth and righteousness descend and ascend from God and creation. It links human fidelity with divine governance, suggesting a restored world in which justice is visible and accessible. The imagery invites readers to trust in God’s orderly restoration of life and society.

Ps 85:12 — Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good

Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

This verse grounds the promise of God’s generosity in the land’s fruitfulness. It links divine blessing with the community’s agricultural prosperity as tangible signs of God’s generosity. The verse reinforces the psalm’s overarching hope: God’s provision accompanies restoration and peace.

Ps 85:13 — Righteousness shall go before him

Righteousness shall go before him, and shall set us in the way of his steps.

The closing image places righteousness as a guide for the community’s path, aligning conduct with divine will. It envisions ethical integrity as the road that leads to God’s presence. The verse concludes the psalm with a call to live in fidelity as God’s justice and mercy unfold around them.

Church Teaching on This Passage

Church Fathers such as Augustine and Chrysostom commented on Ps 85 as a rich meditation on God’s mercy and truth, and on how divine peace reconciles souls and communities. Augustine highlighted the harmony of God’s mercy with his truth, seeing in the psalm a template for Christian repentance, trust in Christ, and the peace he brings. The Magisterium has consistently treated Ps 85 as a scriptural witness to the mercy that restores, purifies, and unites, and as a text that foreshadows the fulfillment of salvation in Christ who reconciles humanity with God and with one another.

This Chapter in the Liturgy

In Catholic worship, Psalm 85 is used in the Liturgy of the Hours and, at times, in Mass propers that focus on mercy, forgiveness, and the longing for God’s reign of peace. Its themes align with Advent’s sense of expectancy and with penitential seasons when Israel’s posture of repentance and hope is fitting for communal prayer. The psalm’s arc—from lament to trust—suits antiphons, responsories, and meditative readings, inviting the faithful to participate in God’s ongoing work of restoration in the world.

Lectio Divina

Verse for reflection: 85:8 — I will hear what God the LORD will speak.

Meditation question: In what ways is God speaking to me today, and what am I prepared to hear and respond to in obedience, rather than clinging to my own plans or fears?

Prayer: Lord, open my ears to your word, soften my heart to receive your peace, and grant me the courage to walk in your truth all my days. Amen.

FAQ

1. Q: What is the historical setting of Psalm 85?
2. A: It is a communal prayer likely crafted in a period of restoration after distress or exile, focusing on God’s mercy, forgiveness, and the hope of renewed life in the covenant community.
3. Q: How does Psalm 85 relate to Christ in Catholic teaching?
4. A: The psalm prefigures the coming of the Messiah who brings mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace; early Fathers and later Catholic teaching see it as a foreshadowing of the peace Christ brings to humanity.
5. Q: Why is this psalm used in liturgy?
6. A: Its emphases on mercy, forgiveness, and peace make it suitable for Advent, penitential seasons, and any liturgical moment calling for hope and restoration within God’s people.
7. Q: What literary features stand out in Psalm 85?
8. A: It features a lament-to-praise arc, communal appeal, parallelism, and imagery of mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace that culminates in a hopeful eschatological vision.