A Prayer for the Nation's Welfare (PSA 85:1-13)

[85:1] Lord, you have been merciful to your land; you have made Israel prosperous again.

[85:2] You have forgiven your people's sins and pardoned all their wrongs.

[85:3] You stopped being angry with them and held back your furious rage.

[85:4] Bring us back, O God our savior, and stop being displeased with us!

[85:5] Will you be angry with us forever? Will your anger never cease?

[85:6] Make us strong again, and we, your people, will praise you.

[85:7] Show us your constant love, O Lord, and give us your saving help.

[85:8] I am listening to what the Lord God is saying; he promises peace to us, his own people, if we do not go back to our foolish ways.

[85:9] Surely he is ready to save those who honor him, and his saving presence will remain in our land.

[85:10] Love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will embrace.

[85:11] Human loyalty will reach up from the earth, and God's righteousness will look down from heaven.

[85:12] The Lord will make us prosperous, and our land will produce rich harvests.

[85:13] Righteousness will go before the Lord and prepare the path for him.