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Psalm 85 · a question people ask

Are 85:9-13 the words God speaks?

In the text

The psalm doesn't say. The one who says I tells what he will do: "I will hear what God, the LORD, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his saints; but let them not turn again to folly" (85:8). The WEB puts no quotation marks after it, and the verses that follow speak of God as he: "Surely his salvation is near those who fear him" (85:9), "Yes, the LORD will give that which is good" (85:12), "Righteousness goes before him" (85:13), and twice they say our: "that glory may dwell in our land" (85:9), "Our land will yield its increase" (85:12). So they aren't God speaking of himself as I. How they stand to what the psalmist heard, the psalm doesn't say, and it doesn't name the one who says I; the title reads only, "For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah" (85:1).

The verses

“For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. LORD, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.”
Psalm 85:1 · World English Bible
“I will hear what God, the LORD, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his saints; but let them not turn again to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven. Yes, the LORD will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase. Righteousness goes before him, and prepares the way for his steps.”
Psalm 85:8-13 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 85

Psalm 85: Righteousness and peace have kissed

One Hebrew verb, shuv, runs through Psalm 85 five times: the LORD has turned from his anger (85:3), the people pray "Turn us" (85:4) and "revive us again" (85:6), and the last time it is the people who are not to "turn again to folly" (85:8).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions