Psalm 85:10

Psalm 85:10, in plain English

Four qualities that were separated by sin are now reuniting: loving devotion, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace are coming back together like they're meant to be.

Why it's here

This is one of the most beautiful images in the Psalms. When sin entered the world, these qualities were torn apart from each other. Righteousness became harsh without mercy. Peace existed without justice. Now, in restoration, they're meeting again. They're embracing. The psalmist is describing the reconciliation of God's character with human experience.

Who's speaking

The psalmist, describing the reunion of God's qualities in the land.

Where it sits in the story

This portrait of reunited virtues points toward the fullness of God's redemption, where His justice and mercy, His holiness and compassion, are perfectly united — something supremely shown in Christ.

The scholarly reading

Divine virtues—mercy and faithfulness, righteousness and peace—converge in a moment of cosmic reconciliation where opposing qualities embrace one another.

Language and setting

This is perhaps the most theologically dense verse in the psalm, depicting personified virtues in relational embrace. The Hebrew parallelism presents two pairs: ḥesed (covenantal mercy) with 'emet (faithfulness/truth), and ṣedeq (righteousness/justice) with šālôm (peace). Medieval Jewish exegete Abraham ibn Ezra understood this as depicting the moment when God's justice and mercy cease their tension and operate in concert. The verbs nišqû (kissed) and pāgaš (met/encountered) anthropomorphize these attributes as beings in relationship.

Voice

The psalmist, articulating visionary insight about the nature of God's restored order.

Significance

This verse anticipates the Christian theological tradition's exploration of how divine justice and mercy are reconciled in the divine nature—a question that would occupy medieval and Reformation theology. It also reflects apocalyptic literature's use of cosmic imagery to describe divine transformation.

8I 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.

9Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.

10Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed.

11Faithfulness sprouts from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.

12The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase.

Read all of Psalm 85 — Love and faithfulness meet. Righteousness and peace kiss. A psalm that imagines a future so good it reads like a dream.