KJV ORIGINAL
God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
God, please be kind and merciful to us, and bless us; let your face shine on us with favor. Selah.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is asking God to show mercy, give blessings, and look upon them with loving favor.
📚 Historical Context
This psalm was likely used in Israel's temple worship, possibly during harvest festivals when the people would gather to thank God for His blessings. The phrase 'cause his face to shine upon us' echoes the priestly blessing from Numbers 6:24-26, which was a familiar benediction in Jewish worship. 'Selah' appears throughout the Psalms and likely indicated a musical pause or emphasis during sung worship.
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