1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme committed to the sonnes of Korah. Lord, thou hast bene fauourable vnto thy land: thou hast brought againe the captiuitie of Iaakob. 2 Thou hast forgiuen the iniquitie of thy people, and couered all their sinnes. Selah. 3 Thou hast withdrawen all thine anger, and hast turned backe from the fiercenes of thy wrath. 4 Turne vs, O God of our saluation, and release thine anger toward vs. 5 Wilt thou be angry with vs for euer? and wilt thou prolong thy wrath from one generation to another? 6 Wilt thou not turne againe and quicken vs, that thy people may reioyce in thee? 7 Shew vs thy mercie, O Lord, and graunt vs thy saluation. 8 I will hearken what the Lord God will say: for he will speake peace vnto his people, and to his Saintes, that they turne not againe to follie. 9 Surely his saluation is neere to them that feare him, that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercie and trueth shall meete: righteousnes and peace shall kisse one another. 11 Trueth shall bud out of the earth, and righteousnes shall looke downe from heauen. 12 Yea, the Lord shall giue good things, and our land shall giue her increase. 13 Righteousnesse shall go before him, and shall set her steps in the way.
A Prayer for the Nation's Welfare
1 Lord, you have been merciful to your land;
you have made Israel prosperous again.
2 You have forgiven your people's sins
and pardoned all their wrongs.
3 You stopped being angry with them
and held back your furious rage.
4 Bring us back, O God our savior,
and stop being displeased with us!
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will your anger never cease?
6 Make us strong again,
and we, your people, will praise you.
7 Show us your constant love, O Lord,
and give us your saving help.
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.
9 Surely he is ready to save those who honor him,
and his saving presence will remain in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will embrace.
11 Human loyalty will reach up from the earth,
and God's righteousness will look down from heaven.
12 The Lord will make us prosperous,
and our land will produce rich harvests.
13 Righteousness will go before the Lord
and prepare the path for him.