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Psalm 85:11
Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven.
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.
13Righteousness goes before him, and prepares the way for his steps.
Notice
Truth springs from the ground while righteousness looks down from heaven, a picture of hope reaching into the land where God's people live.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What does truth springing from the earth suggest about the hope described in this psalm?
Write on thisWhere would you hope to see truth take root in your shared life with others?
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
Isaiah 45:8Rain, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, that it may produce salvation, and let it cause righteousness to …Both passages connect heaven and earth through righteousness, using growth from the ground to picture God's good work.
John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.Truth is the shared word: it springs from the earth in the psalm, while Jesus identifies himself as the truth in John.
1 John 5:20–21We know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. …Both speak of truth: the psalm pictures its growth, while John describes knowing the true God through his Son.
Isaiah 42:21It pleased the LORD, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law and make it honorable.Righteousness connects the passages: it looks down from heaven in the psalm, and Isaiah names it as the reason God honors his law.
Matthew 17:5While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am …The link is limited to attention directed above: righteousness looks down from heaven, while Matthew records God's voice from a cloud.
Isaiah 61:11For as the earth produces its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to …Both use growth from the earth to picture flourishing: truth springs up in the psalm, and God causes righteousness and praise to grow.
2 Corinthians 5:21For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.Righteousness is the shared thread: the psalm pictures it looking down from heaven, while Paul describes becoming God's righteousness in Christ.
Isaiah 53:2For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no good looks or majesty. When we see him, there is no beauty that we …Growth from the ground connects the images, though the psalm describes truth and Isaiah describes a person growing like a tender plant.
Luke 2:14“Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”Both connect the heights with the earth, and the psalm's surrounding lines share Luke's words of glory and peace.
Ephesians 1:6to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved.The connection is broad: God's goodness shapes the psalm's surrounding lines, while Ephesians praises the glory of his grace.
Matthew 3:17Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”Heaven is the shared setting: righteousness looks down in the psalm, and Matthew records a voice declaring pleasure in the Son.
Song of Songs 2:1The connection is limited to plant imagery: truth springs from the earth in the psalm, while the Song's speaker names flowers.
Where this verse fits
Waiting. fear for the future. praise and worship.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The psalm pictures a land where truth grows and righteousness looks down from heaven. God's goodness reaches the earth where his people live.
Now put it in your words.
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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).