Psalms 85 · Verse 13

Psalms 85:13

Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
Psalms 85:13, King James Version

Psalms 85:13 in other translations

BSBRighteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.
WEBRighteousness goes before him, and prepares the way for his steps.
ASVRighteousness shall go before him, And shall make his footsteps a way to walk in.
YLTRighteousness before Him goeth, And maketh His footsteps for a way!
DARBYRighteousness shall go before him, and shall set his footsteps on the way.
BBERighteousness will go before him, making a way for his footsteps.
WebsterRighteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

What does Psalms 85:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 85:12-13

12-13. and, under this, the deserted land shall be productive, and men be "set," or guided in God's holy ways. Doubtless, in this description of God's returning favor, the writer had in view that more glorious period, when Christ shall establish His government on God's reconciled justice and abounding mercy.

Read the full comment on Psalms 85:12-13 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Righteousness shall go before him - Perhaps this verse may receive its best solution from Rom 3:25 : "Whom God hath set for a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his Righteousness for the remission of sins that are past." This term the apostle uses to point out God's method of justifying or saving mankind. And this, in the preaching of the pure Gospel, is ever going before to point out the Lord Jesus, and the redemption that is in his blood. And thus going before him, the sinner, who feels his need of salvation, is Set - in the way of his steps; as Bartimeus sat by the way-side begging, by which way Jesus walked; and when he came where he was, heard his prayer, and restored him his sight. Or, righteousness - the pure and holy law of God, must be proclaimed as broken by sinners, and calling aloud for vengeance, before they can see and feel their need of Christ crucified. By the preaching of the law they are prepared to receive the grace of the Gospel.

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 85:13 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.

צֶ֭דֶקTze.dekrighteousnessH6664
לְפָנָ֣יוle.fa.Nav<to> before himH6440
יְהַלֵּ֑ךְye.ha.Lekhit will goH1980
וְיָשֵׂ֖םve.ya.Semand it will makeH7760
לְדֶ֣רֶךְle.De.rekhto [the] way ofH1870
פְּעָמָֽיו\׃pe.'a.Mavfootsteps hisH6471

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

Cross references for Psalms 85:13

  • Psalms 89:14

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

  • John 13:34

    A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

  • 1 John 2:6

    He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

  • 1 Peter 2:18-24

    Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: …

  • 1 Peter 4:1

    Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

  • Isaiah 58:8

    Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:18

    But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

  • Galatians 2:20

    I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

  • Matthew 20:27-28

    And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

  • Hebrews 12:1-2

    Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • Psalms 119:35

    Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

  • John 13:14-16

    If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Righteousness.
72:2,3; 89:14; Isa 58:8
shall set.
119:35; Mt 20:27,28; Joh 13:14-16,34; 2Co 3:18; Ga 2:20; Eph 5:1,2
Php 2:5-8; Heb 12:1,2; 1Pe 2:18-24; 4:1; 1Jo 2:6

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

Context

  • Psalms 85:12

    Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

  • Psalms 85:13

    Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

Read all of Psalms 85

Psalms 85:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
La justicia irá delante de él; y sus pasos pondrá en camino.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
L’ Éternel aussi donnera ce qui est bon, et notre pays rendra son fruit.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Die Gerechtigkeit wird vor ihm einhergehen und ihre Tritte zu seinem Wege machen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
quia misericordia tua magna est super me, et eruisti animam meam ex inferno inferiori.