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A Prayer for the Nation

For the director of music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

85 Lord, you have been kind to your land;
    you brought back the people of Jacob.
You forgave the guilt of the people
    and covered all their sins. Selah
You stopped all your anger;
    you turned back from your strong anger.

God our Savior, bring us back again.
    Stop being angry with us.
Will you be angry with us forever?
    Will you stay angry from now on?
Won’t you give us life again?
    Your people would rejoice in you.
Lord, show us your love,
    and save us.

I will listen to God the Lord.
    He has ordered peace for those who worship him.
    Don’t let them go back to foolishness.
God will soon save those who respect him,
    and his glory will be seen in our land.
10 Love and truth belong to God’s people;
    goodness and peace will be theirs.
11 On earth people will be loyal to God,
    and God’s goodness will shine down from heaven.
12 The Lord will give his goodness,
    and the land will give its crops.
13 Goodness will go before God
    and prepare the way for him.

Psalm 85[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
    you restored the fortunes(A) of Jacob.
You forgave(B) the iniquity(C) of your people
    and covered all their sins.[b]
You set aside all your wrath(D)
    and turned from your fierce anger.(E)

Restore(F) us again, God our Savior,(G)
    and put away your displeasure toward us.
Will you be angry with us forever?(H)
    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive(I) us again,
    that your people may rejoice(J) in you?
Show us your unfailing love,(K) Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.(L)

I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace(M) to his people, his faithful servants—
    but let them not turn to folly.(N)
Surely his salvation(O) is near those who fear him,
    that his glory(P) may dwell in our land.

10 Love and faithfulness(Q) meet together;
    righteousness(R) and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness(S) looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,(T)
    and our land will yield(U) its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.
  2. Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.