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.
This song sings the psalm’s own words, closely following the verses. Read along in The Text tab while you listen.
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