1To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. 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.
2You have forgiven and taken away the iniquity of Your people, You have covered all their sin. Selah [pause, and calmly realize what that means]!
3You have withdrawn all Your wrath and indignation, You have turned away from the blazing anger [which You had let loose].
4Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease [forever].
5Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger [and disfavor] and spread it out to all generations?
6Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?
7Show us Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation.
8I 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.
9Surely 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.
10Mercy and loving-kindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11Truth shall spring up from the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
13Righteousness shall go before Him and shall make His footsteps a way in which to walk.