Read
Psalm 85:10
Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
8I will hear what God, the LORD, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his saints; but let them not turn again to folly.
9Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
10Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven.
12Yes, the LORD will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase.
Notice
The kiss between righteousness and peace pictures a harmony that can seem hard to imagine when truth and mercy appear to pull apart.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
Where, if anywhere, do mercy and truth seem hard to keep together in your life?
Write on thisWhat does the kiss between righteousness and peace suggest about the peace you hope for?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
John 14:27Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.Peace joins righteousness in the psalm, while Jesus speaks of peace as a gift he leaves with his followers.
Proverbs 3:3Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.Both texts join truth with mercy or kindness; Proverbs tells the reader to keep these close to the heart.
Psalm 89:14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face.Both psalms bring righteousness, truth, and loving mercy together, with Psalm 89 placing them around God's throne.
Psalm 100:5For the LORD is good. His loving kindness endures forever, his faithfulness to all generations.Both psalms speak of God's steadfast goodness through paired terms: mercy and truth here, loving kindness and faithfulness in Psalm 100.
John 1:17For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.Truth appears with mercy in the psalm and with grace in John, who names Jesus Christ as their source.
Isaiah 32:16–18Then justice will dwell in the wilderness; and righteousness will remain in the fruitful field.Righteousness takes a visible place in both poems: kissing peace in the psalm and remaining in Isaiah's fruitful field.
Isaiah 9:6For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, …Peace is the shared word: it kisses righteousness in the psalm and forms part of the promised child's title in Isaiah.
Psalm 86:15But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.Mercy and truth meet in Psalm 85; Psalm 86 describes the Lord as merciful and abundant in loving kindness and truth.
Psalm 29:11The LORD will give strength to his people. The LORD will bless his people with peace.Psalm 85 pictures peace joined to righteousness, while Psalm 29 names peace as the LORD's blessing for his people.
Hosea 2:19I will betroth you to me forever. Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, in loving kindness, and in compassion.Both passages use images of affection to connect righteousness with mercy: a kiss in the psalm and betrothal in Hosea.
Romans 5:21that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Both texts connect righteousness with mercy or grace; Romans describes grace reigning through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 45:24They will say of me, ‘There is righteousness and strength only in the LORD.’” Even to him will men come. All those who raged against him will be disappointed.Righteousness is their shared concern: it kisses peace in the psalm, while Isaiah locates righteousness and strength in the LORD alone.
Where this verse fits
Praise and worship. injustice and anger. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
God's promised peace goes hand in hand with righteousness. The psalm pictures mercy meeting truth, and righteousness greeting peace with a kiss.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 85:10. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
Keep goingPsalm 85 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).