Psalm 85:8 means that the psalmist is listening for what God will say, and he trusts that God will speak peace to his people. He also warns that God’s people should not return to foolish ways once they have been restored. The verse is spoken by a writer of the Psalms, likely a member of the community of Israel, who speaks as a listener waiting for a word from the LORD to the faithful.
I 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.
Psalm 85:8 (WEB)
What Psalm 85:8 Means
The verse opens with “I will hear.” The writer does not claim to have already received an answer. He sets himself in a posture of attentiveness, deciding to pay close attention before he speaks or acts. This is a reminder that faith often begins with listening rather than demanding.
The next phrase, “he will speak peace to his people, his saints,” is the heart of the verse. The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, means far more than the absence of conflict. It points to wholeness, safety, completeness and right relationship with God and others. The psalmist expects that God’s word to his people will bring this kind of restored wholeness.
The final clause, “but let them not turn again to folly,” adds a warning. Folly in the wisdom literature means living as though God does not matter, which leads to ruin. The verse does not promise that God’s peace makes a person immune to temptation. It suggests that receiving God’s peace should shape how we live afterward, so that we do not drift back into the foolish choices we have been rescued from.
The Context of Psalm 85:8
Psalm 85 belongs to the collection of songs associated with the sons of Korah. It seems to have been written for the worshiping community after a season of hardship, probably a time when the nation felt the weight of God’s displeasure. The opening verses look back on past mercy and ask God to restore his people again. The language is communal, with “us” and “our” appearing throughout, so the audience is the whole assembly gathered for prayer.
The verses just before this one, in Psalm 85:5-7, are full of questions and petitions: will you be angry forever, will you not revive us again, show us your loving kindness. Verse 8 is the answer the community is waiting for. Verses 9 through 11 then describe the blessings that follow, with salvation near, mercy and truth meeting, and righteousness and peace kissing. Read in that setting, Psalm 85:8 is the hinge of the psalm, the moment when the people stop asking and begin listening.
Key Phrases in Psalm 85:8
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.
(WEB)
This verse speaks of God keeping in perfect peace the one whose mind stays on him. It pairs closely with Psalm 85:8 by showing how attentive trust opens the way to the peace God speaks.
James 1:22
But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
(WEB)
James warns that hearing God’s word is not enough without doing it. This echoes the psalmist’s concern that the people not return to folly after receiving God’s word.
A Short Prayer From Psalm 85:8
Lord, I want to be quiet long enough to hear what you are saying to me today. Speak your peace into the places where I feel anxious, unsettled or tempted to rush ahead on my own strength. Help me to take that peace seriously, so that I do not drift back into the foolish habits I have already left behind. Shape my choices this week so they reflect the wholeness you have promised. Keep my heart attentive and my feet steady as I follow you. Amen.
