Corpus Psalterium · Vol. IV
Psalm LXXXV (85)
Cantillated — Communal Lament Turning
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 85 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֬רַח מִזְמֽוֹר׃
Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.
רָצִ֣יתָ יְהוָ֣ה אַרְצֶ֑ךָ שַׁ֝֗בְתָּ שבות יַעֲקֹֽב׃
You have forgiven the iniquity of your people. You have covered all their sin. Selah.
נָ֭שָׂאתָ עֲוֺ֣ן עַמֶּ֑ךָ כִּסִּ֖יתָ כָל־חַטָּאתָ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃
You have taken away all your wrath. You have turned from the fierceness of your anger.
אָסַ֥פְתָּ כָל־עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ הֱ֝שִׁיב֗וֹתָ מֵחֲר֥וֹן אַפֶּֽךָ׃
Turn us, God of our salvation, and cause your indignation toward us to cease.
שׁ֭וּבֵנוּ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׁעֵ֑נוּ וְהָפֵ֖ר כַּֽעַסְךָ֣ עִמָּֽנוּ׃
Will you be angry with us forever? Will you draw out your anger to all generations?
הַלְעוֹלָ֥ם תֶּֽאֱנַף־בָּ֑נוּ תִּמְשֹׁ֥ךְ אַ֝פְּךָ֗ לְדֹ֣ר וָדֹֽר׃
Won’t you revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
הֲֽלֹא־אַ֭תָּה תָּשׁ֣וּב תְּחַיֵּ֑נוּ וְ֝עַמְּךָ֗ יִשְׂמְחוּ־בָֽךְ׃
Show us your loving kindness, Yahweh. Grant us your salvation.
הַרְאֵ֣נוּ יְהוָ֣ה חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ וְ֝יֶשְׁעֲךָ֗ תִּתֶּן־לָֽנוּ׃
I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his saints; but let them not turn again to folly.
אֶשְׁמְעָ֗ה מַה־יְדַבֵּר֮ הָאֵ֪ל ׀ יְה֫וָ֥ה כִּ֤י ׀ יְדַבֵּ֬ר שָׁל֗וֹם אֶל־עַמּ֥וֹ וְאֶל־חֲסִידָ֑יו וְֽאַל־יָשׁ֥וּבוּ לְכִסְלָֽה׃
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
אַ֤ךְ ׀ קָר֣וֹב לִירֵאָ֣יו יִשְׁע֑וֹ לִשְׁכֹּ֖ן כָּב֣וֹד בְּאַרְצֵֽנוּ׃
Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
חֶֽסֶד־וֶאֱמֶ֥ת נִפְגָּ֑שׁוּ צֶ֖דֶק וְשָׁל֣וֹם נָשָֽׁקוּ׃
Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven.
אֱ֭מֶת מֵאֶ֣רֶץ תִּצְמָ֑ח וְ֝צֶ֗דֶק מִשָּׁמַ֥יִם נִשְׁקָֽף׃
Yes, Yahweh will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase.
גַּם־יְ֭הוָה יִתֵּ֣ן הַטּ֑וֹב וְ֝אַרְצֵ֗נוּ תִּתֵּ֥ן יְבוּלָֽהּ׃
Righteousness goes before him, and prepares the way for his steps.
צֶ֭דֶק לְפָנָ֣יו יְהַלֵּ֑ךְ וְיָשֵׂ֖ם לְדֶ֣רֶךְ פְּעָמָֽיו׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
You were favorable
O Lord
To Your land
You restored
the captivity of Jacob
You forgave
the iniquity
Of Your people
You covered
all their sin
You gathered
all Your wrath
You turned away
from burning anger
Restore us
O God of our salvation
Turn away
Your anger from us
Will You be angry
forever
Will Your wrath
endure
Restore us
restore us
Revive us again
That Your people
may rejoice in You
Show us Your mercy
show us Your mercy
Give us salvation
Give us salvation
Will You not
revive us again
That we may rejoice
in You
Show us
Your steadfast love
Give us
Your salvation
I will hear
what God will speak
For He will speak
peace
To His people
to His saints
Let them not
turn back to folly
Restore us
restore us
Revive us again
That Your people
may rejoice in You
Show us Your mercy
show us Your mercy
Give us salvation
Give us salvation
Surely salvation
is near
To those who fear Him
That glory
may dwell
In our land
Steadfast love
and truth meet
Righteousness
and peace
Kiss
Truth springs up
from the earth
Righteousness
looks down
From heaven
The Lord will give
what is good
Our land will yield
its increase
Righteousness goes
before Him
He sets His steps
in the way
Restore us
restore us
Revive us again
Righteousness
before Him
A path
for His steps
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.