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Prayer for God’s Mercy upon the Nation.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

85 O Lord, You have [at last] shown favor to Your land [of Canaan];
You have restored [from Babylon] the captives of Jacob (Israel).

You have forgiven the wickedness of Your people;
You have covered all their sin. Selah.

You have withdrawn all Your wrath,
You have turned away from Your burning anger.


Restore us, O God of our salvation,
And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.

Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?

Will You not revive us and bring us to life again,
That Your people may rejoice in You?

Show us Your lovingkindness, O Lord,
And grant us Your salvation.


I will hear [with expectant hope] what God the Lord will say,
For He will speak peace to His people, to His [a]godly ones—
But let them not turn again to folly.

Surely His salvation is near to those who [reverently] fear Him [and obey Him with submissive wonder],
That glory [the manifest presence of God] may dwell in our land.
10 
Steadfast love and truth and faithfulness meet together;
Righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 
Truth springs from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 
Indeed, the Lord will give what is good,
And our land will yield its produce.
13 
Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way [in which to walk].

A Psalm of Supplication and Trust.

A Prayer of David.

86 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
For I am distressed and needy [I long for Your help].

Protect my life (soul), for I am godly and faithful;
O You my God, save Your servant, who trusts in You [believing in You and relying on You, confidently committing everything to You].

Be gracious and merciful to me, O Lord,
For to You I cry out all the day long.

Make Your servant rejoice,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul [all that I am—in prayer].

For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our sins, sending them away, completely letting them go forever and ever];
And abundant in lovingkindness and overflowing in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Hear, O Lord, my prayer;
And listen attentively to the voice of my supplications (specific requests)!

In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For You will answer me.

There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord,
Nor are there any works [of wonder and majesty] like Yours.

All nations whom You have made shall come and kneel down in worship before You, O Lord,
And they shall glorify Your name.
10 
For You are great and do wondrous works!
You alone are God.

11 
Teach me Your way, O Lord,
I will walk and live in Your truth;
Direct my heart to fear Your name [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder].(A)
12 
I will give thanks and praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
And will glorify Your name forevermore.
13 
For great is Your lovingkindness and graciousness toward me;
And You have rescued my life from the depths of Sheol [from death].

14 
O God, arrogant and insolent men have risen up against me;
A band of violent men have sought my life,
And they have not set You before them.
15 
But You, O Lord, are a God [who protects and is] merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.
16 
Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
Grant Your strength [Your might and the power to resist temptation] to Your servant,
And save the son of Your handmaid.
17 
Show me a sign of [Your] goodwill,
That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
Because You, O Lord, helped and comforted me.

The Privileges of Citizenship in Zion.

A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song.

87 His foundation is on the holy mountain.

The Lord loves the gates of Zion
More than all the dwellings of Jacob (Israel).

Glorious things are spoken of you,
O city of God [Jerusalem]. Selah.

“I will mention Rahab (Egypt) and Babylon among those who know Me—
Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia (Cush)—
‘This one was born there.’”

But of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her,”
And the Most High Himself will establish her.

The Lord will count, when He registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah.

The singers as well as the players of flutes will say,
“All my springs and sources of joy are in you [Jerusalem, city of God].”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 85:8 I.e. believers, those in right standing with Him.

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