TRV
Translation
Berean Standard Bible
Restore us, O God of our salvation, and put away Your displeasure toward us.
American Standard Version
Turn us, O God of our salvation, And cause thine indignation toward us to cease.
World English Bible Messianic
Turn us, God of our salvation, and cause your indignation toward us to cease.
Young's Literal Translation
Turn back to us, O God of our salvation, And make void Thine anger with us.
In the KJVVerse 15,276 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 85 verses 1–7
1 ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
The church, in affliction and distress, is here, by direction from God, making her application to God. So ready is God to hear and answer the prayers of his people that by his Spirit in the word, and in the heart, he indites their petitions and puts words into their mouths. The people of God, in a very low and weak condition, are here taught how to address themselves to God.
I. They are to acknowledge with thankfulness the great things God had done for them (Psa 85:1-3): "Thou has done so and so for us and our fathers." Note, The sense of present afflictions should not drown the remembrance of former mercies; but, even when we are brought very low, we must call to remembrance past experiences of God's goodness, which we must take notice of with thankfulness, to his praise. They speak of it here with pleasure, 1. That God had shown himself propitious to their land, and had smiled upon it as his own: "Thou hast been favourable to thy land, as thine, with distinguishing favours." Note, The favour of God is the spring-head of all good, and the fountain of happiness, to nations, as well as to particular persons. It was by the favour of God that Israel got and kept possession of Canaan (Psa 44:3); and, if he had not continued very favourable to them, they would have been ruined many a time. 2. That he had rescued them out of the hands of their enemies and restored them to their liberty: "Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob, and settled those in their own land again that had been driven out and were strangers in a strange land, prisoners in the land of their oppressors." The captivity of Jacob, though it may continue long, will be brought back in due time. 3. That he had not dealt with them according to the desert of their provocations (Psa 85:2): "Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, and not punished them as in justice thou mightest. Thou hast covered all their sin." When God forgives sin he covers it; and, when he covers the sin of his people, he covers it all. The bringing back of their captivity was then an instance of God's favour to them, when it was accompanied with the pardon of their iniquity. 4. That he had not continued his anger against them so far, and so long, as they had reason to fear (Psa 85:3): "Having covered all their sin, thou hast taken away all thy wrath;" for when sin is set aside God's anger ceases; God is pacified if we are purified. See what the pardon of sin is: Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, that is, "Thou hast turned thy anger from waxing hot, so as to consume us in the flame of it. In compassion to us thou hast not stirred up all thy wrath, but, when an intercessor has stood before thee in the gap, thou hast turned away thy anger."
II. They are taught to pray to God for grace and mercy, in reference to their present distress; this is inferred from the former: "Thou hast done well for our fathers; do well for us, for we are the children of the same covenant." 1. They pray for converting grace: "Turn us, O God of our salvation! in order to the turning of our captivity; turn us from iniquity; turn us to thyself and to our duty; turn us, and we shall be turned." All those whom God will save sooner or later he will turn. If no conversion, no salvation. 2. They pray for the removal of the tokens of God's displeasure which they were under: "Cause thine anger towards us to cease, as thou didst many a time cause it to cease in the days of our fathers, when thou didst take away thy wrath from them." Observe the method, "First turn us to thee, and then cause thy anger to turn from us." When we are reconciled to God, then, and not till then, we may expect the comfort of his being reconciled to us. 3. They pray for the manifestation of God's good-will to them (Psa 85:7): "Show us thy mercy, O Lord! show thyself merciful to us; not only have mercy on us, but let us have the comfortable evidences of that mercy; let us know that thou hast mercy on us and mercy in store for us." 4. They pray that God would, graciously to them and gloriously to himself, appear on their behalf: "Grant us thy salvation; grant it by thy promise, and then, no doubt, thou wilt work it by thy providence." Note, The vessels of God's mercy are the heirs of his salvation; he shows mercy to those to whom he grants salvation; for salvation is of mere mercy.
III. They are taught humbly to expostulate with God concerning their present troubles, Psa 85:5, Psa 85:6. Here observe, 1. What they dread and deprecate: "Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? We are undone if thou art, but we hope thou wilt not. Wilt thou draw out thy anger unto all generations? No; thou art gracious, slow to anger, and swift to show mercy, and wilt not contend for ever. Thou wast not angry with our fathers for ever, but didst soon turn thyself from the fierceness of thy wrath; why then wilt thou be angry with us for ever? Are not thy mercies and compassions as plentiful and powerful as ever they were? Impenitent sinners God will be angry with for ever; for what is hell but the wrath of God drawn out unto endless generations? But shall a hell upon earth be the lot of thy people?" 2. What they desire and hope for: "Wilt thou not revive us again (Psa 85:6), revive us with comforts spoken to us, revive us with deliverances wrought for us? Thou hast been favourable to thy land formerly, and that revived it; wilt thou not again be favourable, and so revive it again?" God had granted to the children of the captivity some reviving in their bondage, Ezr 9:8. Their return out of Babylon was as life from the dead, Eze 37:11, Eze 37:12. Now, Lord (say they), wilt thou not revive us again, and put thy hand again the second time to gather us in? Isa 11:11; Psa 126:1, Psa 126:4. Revive thy work in the midst of the years, Hab 3:2. "Revive us again," (1.) "That thy people may rejoice; and so we shall have the comfort of it," Psa 14:7. Give them life, that they may have joy. (2.) "That they may rejoice in thee; and so thou wilt have the glory of it." If God be the fountain of all our mercies, he must be the centre of all our joys.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–7. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 17
“Restore us, O God of our salvations.” Why did the psalmist not say “our salvation” instead of “our salvations”? If we sinned just once, we would need only one salvation; but we have sinned many times and, therefore, are in need of many salvations. “Will you not instead, O God, give us life?” Until the Lord restores us to life, we are dead. “Show us, O Lord, your kindness, and grant us your salvation.” The Savior’s descent is the work of God’s mercy. He would not have come as a physician if most people were not sick. Because so many were sick, he came as Physician; because we were in need of compassion, he came as Savior.
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 85
And as these things are said of the future, though the sound of the words is past, it follows: "Turn us, O God of our salvation" [Psalm 85:4]. That which he had just related as if it were done, how prays he that it may be done, except because he wished to show that he had spoken as if of the past in prophecy? But that it was not yet done which he had said was done he shows by this, that he prays that it may be done: "Turn us, O God of our salvation, and turn away Your anger from us." Did you not say before: "You have appeased all Your anger, You have turned Yourself from Your wrathful indignation"? How then now do you say, "And turn away Your anger from us"? The Prophet answers: These things I speak of as done, because I see them about to be done: but because they are not yet done, I pray that they may come, which I have already seen.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 85:4 is a fervent communal plea for divine intervention and restoration, emerging from a context of perceived divine displeasure. It acknowledges God as the ultimate source of deliverance, addressing Him as the "God of our salvation," and implores Him to reverse the dire circumstances understood as a manifestation of His righteous anger. This prayer expresses a deep dependence on God's grace, seeking both a spiritual turning of the people back to Him and a cessation of His disciplinary judgment, thereby paving the way for renewed favor, peace, and blessing.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its urgent plea and theological depth. The primary device is apostrophe, as the psalmist directly addresses God ("O God of our salvation"), creating an intimate, personal, and urgent tone for this communal prayer. The use of the imperative verb "Turn us" functions as a profound supplication, highlighting the people's desperate need and their complete dependence on divine initiative for any true change. The parallel structure between "Turn us" and "cause thine anger... to cease" creates a sense of balance and emphasis, underscoring the two-fold nature of their plea: an internal turning of the people enabled by God, and an external cessation of divine judgment. Furthermore, the phrase "God of our salvation" acts as a powerful epithet, a descriptive title that not only identifies God but also evokes His character and His consistent past acts of deliverance, serving as a foundational basis for their present hope and appeal.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 85:4 encapsulates a profound theological truth: humanity's utter dependence on God for both spiritual renewal and the cessation of divine judgment. It affirms God's righteous character, where sin justly invokes His holy anger, yet simultaneously highlights His compassionate nature as the "God of our salvation" who is willing to forgive, relent, and restore. This tension between divine wrath and divine mercy is a central theme throughout Scripture, demonstrating that while God is absolutely holy and just, His ultimate desire is for reconciliation, redemption, and the flourishing of His people. The verse serves as a timeless model for how a repentant community, acknowledging its sin and the consequences thereof, can appeal to God's covenant faithfulness and redemptive power for restoration and renewed favor.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 85:4 offers a timeless and profound pattern for both individual and communal prayer, especially in seasons of distress or when we perceive God's displeasure, whether due to personal sin, collective societal failings, or a general sense of spiritual distance. It calls us to adopt a posture of humble dependence and earnest petition. First, it reminds us to acknowledge God's absolute sovereignty and His just response to sin, understanding that any hardship or sense of separation from Him might be a consequence of our own turning away from His ways. Second, it encourages us to appeal to His inherent character as the "God of our salvation," trusting in His boundless mercy and His historical commitment to deliver His people. Our prayer, inspired by this verse, should not merely be for the removal of suffering, but for a profound spiritual transformation—a turning of our hearts back to Him, enabled by His grace, so that His anger might cease and His favor be restored. This verse invites us to seek genuine repentance, to embrace the transformative power of God's grace, and to believe that God deeply desires to "turn" us, to bring us back into full communion with Him, and to pour out His blessings upon us once more.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does God truly get "angry" with His people, or is this just a human way of describing consequences?
Answer: The biblical concept of God's anger, as powerfully expressed in Psalms 85:4, is a profound and real theological truth, not merely a metaphorical description of natural consequences. While God is inherently love and is "slow to anger, abounding in love" (Exodus 34:6), His absolute holiness and justice necessitate a righteous response to sin, rebellion, and covenant unfaithfulness. This divine anger is not akin to human capriciousness, uncontrolled rage, or emotional outbursts; rather, it is a holy indignation against unrighteousness that threatens His covenant relationship with His people and His moral order. It serves as a disciplinary measure, intended to bring about repentance, correction, and ultimately, restoration, as seen consistently throughout the Old Testament narratives (e.g., Deuteronomy 28 outlines the consequences of disobedience). The psalmist's earnest plea for God's anger to "cease" acknowledges its reality and seeks His merciful turning away from just judgment, which is always rooted in His ultimate desire for His people's good and their reconciliation to Him.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 85:4, with its earnest plea for God to "Turn us" and cause His "anger toward us to cease," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "anger toward us" that the psalmist laments is the righteous wrath of a holy God against human sin, a wrath that stood as an insurmountable barrier between a perfectly holy God and a fallen, rebellious humanity. Yet, the "God of our salvation" did indeed "turn" to us, not merely by relenting from judgment, but by providing a perfect, substitutionary sacrifice. Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, bore the full weight of divine wrath on the cross, becoming sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through His atoning work, God's righteous anger against those who believe in Christ has been fully satisfied and eternally ceased. Moreover, the "turning" that the psalmist longed for—both God's turning to humanity in grace and humanity's turning to God in repentance—is perfectly accomplished in Christ. He enables us to truly repent and turn from sin to God (Acts 3:19), and through Him, we are reconciled to God, experiencing the full favor, peace, and restored communion that the psalmist could only yearn for (Romans 5:1). Thus, in Jesus, the profound plea of Psalms 85:4 is not just answered, but eternally fulfilled, offering a salvation far grander and more complete than the psalmist could have imagined.