| Psalm 85 | |
|---|---|
| "LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land" | |
 Justitia et pax (Justice and Peace) by an anonymous artist | |
| Other name |
|
| Text | Korahites |
| Language | Hebrew (original) |
Psalm 85 is the 85th psalm of theBook of Psalms, one of a series of psalms attributed to thesons of Korah. In the English of theKing James Version, this psalm begins: "LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land". In the slightly different numbering system used in the GreekSeptuagint and LatinVulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm isPsalm 84. In Latin, it is known as "Benedixisti Domine terram tuam".[1] In Judaism, it is called "a psalm of returned exiles".[2] TheJerusalem Bible describes it as a "prayer for peace".[3]
The psalm forms a regular part ofJewish,Catholic,Lutheran,Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been paraphrased inhymns and set to music. Its image ofJustice and Peace kissing in verse 10[4] ("righteousness and peace" in versions such as theNew International Version) was a popular theme in art work from theMiddle Ages through the 18th century.
While the superscript attributes this psalm to thesons of Korah, Christian commentators are undecided about the period in which the psalm was written. One suggestion is that it was penned at the end of the reign ofSaul.[5]Alexander Maclaren posits that the setting of Psalm 85 corresponds to the description in theBook of Nehemiah in which only part of the Jewish nation had returned from theBabylonian captivity. They returned "to a ruined city, a fallen Temple, and a mourning land, where they were surrounded by jealous and powerful enemies".[5]
According to Jewish commentators, the sons of Korah are speakingprophetically about the conclusion of the Babylonian exile. They pray that God will also return the Jewish people from their current exile and remove his anger from them altogether. The image of kindness and truth "meeting" alludes to the interrelationship between Israel's truth and God's righteousness. When Israel adheres to the truth, God will respond with righteousness; He will send rain to produce abundant harvests.[6] TheInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia also interprets the "kiss" shared by Righteousness and Peace (in the KJV translation) as signifying the spiritual union of "God bowing down from heaven to meet earth and earth rejoicing up to Him, foretelling the glory of salvation for the people".[7]
According to theMidrash Tehillim, the land being referred to in this psalm is theLand of Israel, of which Scripture states, "A land which the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it" (Deuteronomy 11:12). God waits for the Jewish people to perform themitzvot (biblical commandments) associated with the Land – such as tithing the crops and observing theShmita (sabbatical year) and Yovel (Jubilee year) – and when they do, both they and the land will find favor in God's eyes.[8]
John Calvin summarizes the message of Psalm 85 as follows. After God's people returned from the Babylonian captivity they were suffering new afflictions. The people's voice in the psalm cries to God for deliverance on three counts: first, as a continuation of God's grace in bringing the people back from captivity, secondly, in view of the long period of their suffering, and lastly, in hope and confidence in the promises of God for blessing. On this last point, Calvin connects the restoration to Israel with the future kingdom of Christ.[9]
The image of "Justice and Peace kissing" (per the KJV translation;Hebrew:צֶ֖דֶק וְשָׁל֣וֹם נָשָֽׁקוּtseḏeq wə-šālōm nāšāqū) became a popular theme for artworks from the Middle Ages through the 18th century.[10] However, the Hebrew rootn-š-q (Hebrew:נשק) has several translations, including "kiss", "fight", and "fought against each other".[11] According to Eder, the word describes a dynamic type of contact, whether positive or negative.[11]
TheMidrash understands this interaction in a turbulent context, relating it to God taking counsel with His ministering angels about whether to create the first man. The Midrash states:
Rabbi Simon said, "When the Holy One, blessed be He, came to create Adam, the ministering angels formed themselves into groups and parties, some of them saying, 'Let him be created,' whilst others urged, 'let him not be created.' Thus it is written, "Chesed [Kindness] and Truth fought together, Righteousness and Peace combated each other" (Psalms 85:11). Chesed said, 'Let him be created, because he will dispense acts of love'; Truth said, 'Let him not be created, because he is compounded of falsehood'; Righteousness said, 'Let him be created, because he will perform righteous deeds'; Peace said, 'Let him not be created, because he is full of strife.'
"What did the Holy One do? He took Truth and cast it to the ground. As it says, 'And truth was thrown to the ground...' (Daniel 8:12). The ministering angels said before the Almighty: 'Master of the worlds! Why do You put to shame Your chief of court?' The Almighty replied: 'Let Truth rise from the ground!' This is what is meant when it is written, 'Truth shall grow from the ground'" (Psalms 85:12).[12]
In theHebrew Bible, Psalm 85:1 comprises the designation
From then on Psalm 85:1–13 in English versions correspond to verses 2–14 in the Hebrew text.
The following table shows the Hebrew text[13][14] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon theJPS 1917 translation (now in thepublic domain).
| Verse | Hebrew | English translation (JPS 1917) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֬רַח מִזְמֽוֹר׃ | For the Leader. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. |
| 2 | רָצִ֣יתָ יְהֹוָ֣ה אַרְצֶ֑ךָ שַׁ֝֗בְתָּ (שבות) [שְׁבִ֣ית] יַעֲקֹֽב׃ | LORD, Thou hast been favourable unto Thy land, Thou hast turned the captivity of Jacob. |
| 3 | נָ֭שָׂאתָ עֲוֺ֣ן עַמֶּ֑ךָ כִּסִּ֖יתָ כׇל־חַטָּאתָ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃ | Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people, Thou hast pardoned all their sin. Selah . |
| 4 | אָסַ֥פְתָּ כׇל־עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ הֱ֝שִׁיב֗וֹתָ מֵחֲר֥וֹן אַפֶּֽךָ׃ | Thou hast withdrawn all Thy wrath; Thou hast turned from the fierceness of Thine anger. |
| 5 | שׁ֭וּבֵנוּ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׁעֵ֑נוּ וְהָפֵ֖ר כַּעַסְךָ֣ עִמָּֽנוּ׃ | Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Thine indignation toward us to cease. |
| 6 | הַלְעוֹלָ֥ם תֶּאֱנַף־בָּ֑נוּ תִּמְשֹׁ֥ךְ אַ֝פְּךָ֗ לְדֹ֣ר וָדֹֽר׃ | Wilt Thou be angry with us for ever? Wilt Thou draw out Thine anger to all generations? |
| 7 | הֲֽלֹא־אַ֭תָּה תָּשׁ֣וּב תְּחַיֵּ֑נוּ וְ֝עַמְּךָ֗ יִשְׂמְחוּ־בָֽךְ׃ | Wilt Thou not quicken us again, That Thy people may rejoice in Thee? |
| 8 | הַרְאֵ֣נוּ יְהֹוָ֣ה חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ וְ֝יֶשְׁעֲךָ֗ תִּתֶּן־לָֽנוּ׃ | Show us Thy mercy, O LORD, And grant us Thy salvation. |
| 9 | אֶשְׁמְעָ֗ה מַה־יְדַבֵּר֮ הָאֵ֢ל ׀ יְ֫הֹוָ֥ה כִּ֤י ׀ יְדַבֵּ֬ר שָׁל֗וֹם אֶל־עַמּ֥וֹ וְאֶל־חֲסִידָ֑יו וְאַל־יָשׁ֥וּבוּ לְכִסְלָֽה׃ | 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 back to folly. |
| 10 | אַ֤ךְ קָר֣וֹב לִירֵאָ֣יו יִשְׁע֑וֹ לִשְׁכֹּ֖ן כָּב֣וֹד בְּאַרְצֵֽנוּ׃ | Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him; That glory may dwell in our land. |
| 11 | חֶסֶד־וֶאֱמֶ֥ת נִפְגָּ֑שׁוּ צֶ֖דֶק וְשָׁל֣וֹם נָשָֽׁקוּ׃ | Mercy and truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. |
| 12 | אֱ֭מֶת מֵאֶ֣רֶץ תִּצְמָ֑ח וְ֝צֶ֗דֶק מִשָּׁמַ֥יִם נִשְׁקָֽף׃ | Truth springeth out of the earth; And righteousness hath looked down from heaven. |
| 13 | גַּם־יְ֭הֹוָה יִתֵּ֣ן הַטּ֑וֹב וְ֝אַרְצֵ֗נוּ תִּתֵּ֥ן יְבוּלָֽהּ׃ | Yea, the LORD will give that which is good; And our land shall yield her produce. |
| 14 | צֶ֭דֶק לְפָנָ֣יו יְהַלֵּ֑ךְ וְיָשֵׂ֖ם לְדֶ֣רֶךְ פְּעָמָֽיו׃ | Righteousness shall go before Him, And shall make His footsteps a way. |
In theSephardic tradition, Psalm 85 is recited afterKaddish (Titkabel) during theafternoon service onYom Kippur eve.[2] Sephardi Jews also recite this psalm along with numerous others on Yom Kippur itself.[15]
Verses 5 and 8 (in the Hebrew) are part ofSelichot;[16] verse 8 is also recited during themorning service inPesukei Dezimra.[17]
Psalm 85 is recited to express gratitude, as a prayer for a livelihood, and as a prayer for assistance in times of need.[18]
The beginning of Psalm 85 is recommended as anintroit orantiphon forMass onGaudete Sunday, the third Sunday ofAdvent.[19]
The verse “Shew us, O Lord, thy mercy.” (Latin: “Óstende nobis, Dómine, misericórdiam tuam”) is said towards the end of thePrayers at the Foot of the Altar in theTridentine Mass, also called the Extraordinary Form.
In theAgpeya, theCoptic Church'sbook of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office ofSext.[20]
In theChurch of England'sBook of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read in the evening of the 16th day of the month,[21] as well as at Mattins onChristmas Day.[22]
Paul Gerhardt paraphrased Psalm 85 in a hymn, "Herr, der du vormals hast dein Land", which is part of the Protestant German hymnalEvangelisches Gesangbuch as EG 283.
Heinrich Schütz set a German metred version in theBecker Psalter, published in 1628,Herr, der du vormals gnädig warst (Lord, you who were merciful before), SWV 182.
In 1681/2,Marc-Antoine Charpentier composed a « Benedixisti Domine », H.181, for 3 voices, 2 treble instruments and continuo.
Themes from verses 9 to 11 were paraphrased in "The Lord will come and not be slow", a hymn byJohn Milton.[23]
In verse 10 in theKJV, virtues are described as meeting: "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other", in erotic imagery,[24] which became a popular theme for artworks from the Middle Ages through the 18th century.[10] These include paintings byTiepolo,Lanfranco,Pompeo Batoni,Nicolas Prévost, andLaurent de La Hyre.[10] In 2003, American artistJohn August Swanson produced the workPsalm 85.[25][26] The verse was also engraved on apapal tiara which Napoleon gave toPope Pius VII.[27]
The four virtues, Mercy, Truth, Righteousness (or Justice), and Peace, are allegorized asFour Daughters of God.[28] The psalm has also been quoted in nonviolent movements, for example in a 1993 document of Catholic bishops in the United States, for its verse "for he will speak peace unto his people".[29]
This article incorporates text from afree content work. Text taken fromThe Holy Scriptures, The Jewish Publication Society of America.
