[1] Lord, You have [at last] been favorable and have dealt graciously with Your land [of Canaan]; You have brought back [from Babylon] the captives of Jacob. [2] You have forgiven and taken away the iniquity of Your people, You have covered all their sin. Selah [pause, and calmly realize what that means]! [3] You have withdrawn all Your wrath and indignation, You have turned away from the blazing anger [which You had let loose]. [4] Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease [forever]. [5] Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger [and disfavor] and spread it out to all generations? [6] Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? [7] Show us Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation. [8] I will listen [with expectancy] to what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who are in right standing with Him)-but let them not turn again to [self-confident] folly. [9] Surely His salvation is near to those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, [and is ready to be appropriated] that [the manifest presence of God, His] glory may tabernacle and abide in our land. [10] Mercy and loving-kindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. [11] Truth shall spring up from the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. [12] Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. [13] Righteousness shall go before Him and shall make His footsteps a way in which to walk.
