Psalm 85
"Righteousness and peace have kissed"
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What does it say?
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The people of God have been restored before and ask to be restored again: "Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?" The psalmist pauses to listen for what God will say. The answer: loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed. Faithfulness sprouts from the earth and righteousness looks down from heaven. Where those four meet is the gospel — the cross is where God's justice and mercy both are fully satisfied.
Where it is in the Bible: Psalm 85
Before You Read
Who wrote it. The sons of Korah, a group of temple musicians (85:1).
What it is. A psalm that moves from remembered restoration to present need to promised peace. The people have been forgiven before — they ask again.
Why it matters. Verse 10 is one of the most beautiful in the Psalter: lovingkindness and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss. Christians see the cross there.
When the church sings it. In Advent, especially the Second Sunday of Advent in Year C, and on other Sundays in Ordinary Time.
Map of the Psalm
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. You Have Restored Before | 85:1-3 | God forgave, covered sin, turned from anger |
| 2. Restore Us Again | 85:4-7 | A prayer for the present moment |
| 3. Righteousness and Peace | 85:8-13 | A promise: loving devotion and faithfulness will meet |
Section by Section
Section 1 of 3You Have Restored Before
"You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity" (85:1).
The people remember what God has already done. He brought them home before.
"You forgave the iniquity of Your people; You covered all their sin" (85:2).
Covered sin — not exposed, not punished, but covered.
Section 2 of 3Restore Us Again
"Restore us, O God of our salvation, and put away Your displeasure toward us" (85:4).
They know God has done it before. They need it again.
"Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?" (85:6).
"Show us Your loving devotion, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation" (85:7).
Section 3 of 3Righteousness and Peace
"I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints; He will not let them return to folly" (85:8).
A pause. A turning of the ear. What does God say?
"Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land" (85:9).
"Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed" (85:10).
God's character — his love, his truth, his justice, his peace — are not in conflict. At the cross, they all come together.
"Faithfulness sprouts from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven" (85:11).
"The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase" (85:12).
"Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps" (85:13).
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "You restored Jacob from captivity" (85:1) | A reference to the return from exile in Babylon. |
| "You covered all their sin" (85:2) | God did not just forget sin; he covered it — atoned for it. |
| "Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?" (85:6) | A prayer that remembers the past to ask for the present. |
| "Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together" (85:10) | God's mercy and truth are not opposites. |
| "Righteousness and peace have kissed" (85:10) | Justice and peace embrace — only God can make that possible. |
Back Then
The psalm was likely written after the exile in Babylon — the people had returned, but life was still hard. They had experienced restoration before; they needed it again.
"Righteousness looking down from heaven" — a picture of God's justice coming to meet the faithfulness rising from the earth.
Literal Reader Alert
How can righteousness and peace "kiss"? Justice demands that sin be punished; peace means the punishment is settled. At the cross, God's righteousness and his peace come together. Both are satisfied.
Is "He will not let them return to folly" a warning? It is a reassurance: the peace God gives is not fragile. He upholds it.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The people | Hopeful about the past | God restored them before (85:1-2) |
| The people | Needy in the present | They ask again: revive us, restore us (85:4-7) |
| The people | Expectant | God will speak peace; righteousness is coming (85:9-13) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Where are you in this psalm? Tap one.
I've been restored before and need it again
Restore us again, O God of our salvation.
I feel like peace and justice can't coexist
Righteousness and peace have kissed.
I'm listening for what God will say
He will speak peace to His people.
It's Advent and I'm waiting
His salvation is near to those who fear him.
You Might Have Heard
"God can't forgive and be fair at the same time."
What's true: Sin has real consequences; justice is real.
What the passage is mainly about: "Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed" (85:10). At the cross, God's justice was fully met and his mercy fully given — they did not cancel each other; they embraced.
Where Jesus is: He is where righteousness and peace kiss — his death satisfied God's justice, his resurrection brings God's peace. He is also the salvation that is near.
Good News
God's mercy and truth come together.
"Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed" (85:10).
This is the gospel: what seemed impossible was made possible at the cross.
Psalm 85 remembers God's past restoration, asks for it again, and promises: righteousness and peace will kiss. At the cross, they do. Jesus is where they meet.
Big Idea
Psalm 85 remembers that God restored his people before and asks him to do it again. His answer: loving devotion and faithfulness have joined; righteousness and peace have kissed. At the cross, they do.
If this passage brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther said the gospel is where mercy and truth meet at the cross. God does not overlook sin — he forgives it fully. Justice is satisfied and grace flows freely.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It sings Psalm 85 on the Second Sunday of Advent in Year C, the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost in Year B, and on other Sundays in Ordinary Time.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed.
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Second Sunday of Advent Year BPsalm, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
- Lectionary 15 Year BPsalm, Psalm 85:8-13
- Lectionary 17 Year CPsalm, Psalm 85
- Lectionary 19 Year APsalm, Psalm 85:8-13
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Psalm 85, explained in plain words. The people have been forgiven before and ask to be forgiven again. The answer: lovingkindness and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss. About 9 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/psalm-85/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church