Psalms 85 · Verse 10

Psalms 85:10

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Psalms 85:10, King James Version

Psalms 85:10 in other translations

BSBLoving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed.
WEBMercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
ASVMercy and truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
YLTKindness and truth have met, Righteousness and peace have kissed,
DARBYLoving-kindness and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other:
BBEMercy and faith have come together; righteousness and peace have given one another a kiss.
WebsterMercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

What does Psalms 85:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. God's promises of "mercy" will be verified by His "truth" (compare Psa 25:10; 40:10); and the "work of righteousness" in His holy government shall be "peace" (Is 32:17). There is an implied contrast with a dispensation under which God's truth sustains His threatened wrath, and His righteousness inflicts misery on the wicked.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 Mercy and truth are met together - It would be more simple to translate the original: - חסד ואמת נפגשו צדק ושלום נשקו Chesed veemeth niphgashu; Tsedek veshalom nashaku, - " Mercy and truth have met on the way Righteousness and peace have embraced." This is a remarkable text, and much has been said on it: but there is a beauty in it which, I think, has not been noticed. Mercy and peace are on one side; truth and righteousness on the other. Truth requires righteousness; mercy calls for peace. They meet together on the way; one going to make inquisition for sin, the other to plead for reconciliation. Having met, their differences on certain considerations, not here particularly mentioned are adjusted; and their mutual claims are blended together in one common interest; on which peace and righteousness immediately embrace. Thus, righteousness is given to truth, and peace is given to mercy. Now, Where did these meet? In Christ Jesus. When were they reconciled? When he poured out his life on Calvary.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 85:8-13

Sooner or later, God will speak peace to his people. If he do not command outward peace, yet he will suggest inward peace; speaking to their hearts by his Spirit. Peace is spoken only to those who turn from sin. All sin is folly, especially backsliding; it is the greatest folly to return to sin. Surely God's salvation is nigh, whatever our difficulties and distresses are. Also, his honour is secured, that glory may…

Read the full comment on Psalms 85:8-13 →

Psalms 85:10 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

חֶֽסֶד\־che.sed-covenant loyaltyH2617
וֶאֱמֶ֥תve.'e.Metand faithfulnessH571
נִפְגָּ֑שׁוּnif.Ga.shuthey meet togetherH6298
צֶ֖דֶקTze.dekrighteousnessH6664
וְשָׁל֣וֹםve.sha.Lomand peaceH7965
נָשָֽׁקוּ\׃na.Sha.kuthey kissH5401

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 85:10

  • Proverbs 3:3

    Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

  • Psalms 89:14

    Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

  • John 1:17

    For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

  • Isaiah 32:16-18

    Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

  • Psalms 100:5

    For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

  • Psalms 72:3

    The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

  • Romans 5:21

    That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

  • Isaiah 45:24

    Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.

  • Micah 7:20

    Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

  • Hebrews 7:2

    To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

  • Romans 3:25-26

    Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

  • Romans 5:1

    Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mercy.
89:14; 100:5; Ex 34:6,7; Mic 7:20; Lu 1:54,55; Joh 1:17
righteousness.
72:3; Isa 32:16-18; 45:24; Jer 23:5,6; Lu 2:14; Ro 3:25,26; 5:1,21
Heb 7:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 85:9

    Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

  • Psalms 85:10

    Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

  • Psalms 85:11

    Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Read all of Psalms 85

Psalms 85:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
La misericordia y la verdad se encontraron: la justicia y la paz se besaron.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Certainement, son salut est près de ceux qui le craignent, afin que la gloire demeure dans notre pays.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Güte und Wahrheit sind sich begegnet, Gerechtigkeit und Friede haben sich geküßt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Quoniam magnus es tu, et faciens mirabilia; tu es Deus solus.