Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The question isn't just about the duration of God's anger, but about extending it, as if His wrath has a will of its own that needs to be actively "drawn out" from one generation to the next. This implies a desperate plea for God to intentionally stop prolonging His displeasure, rather than just letting it run its course.
Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is lamenting a prolonged period of God's displeasure, likely stemming from the people's past sins and their continued consequences. This plea follows reflections on God's past favor and deliverance, highlighting a stark contrast with their current suffering. They're asking if this season of divine anger will never end, extending its harshness across all generations.
Have you ever felt like a mistake you made, or a sin you committed, cast a shadow over your entire life, affecting not just you but your whole family? This Psalm dives into that heavy feeling.
This verse expresses a deep cry from the heart of God's people who are experiencing the long-term consequences of sin. They're not just asking if God is angry now, but if this anger will stretch on endlessly, impacting every generation that follows.
A Plea Against Perpetual Punishment
Even in the depths of despair, the Bible consistently points to a lifeline. What hope does this Psalm offer when we fear God's anger will never end?
While the first part of the verse expresses a desperate plea against unending anger, the broader context of Psalm 85, and indeed of biblical theology, points to a God whose anger, though righteous, is ultimately temporary for His people.
Ask a follow-up
A Glimpse of God's Mercy
This prayer likely arose during the challenging post-exilic period. Even with the return from exile and the rebuilding of the Temple and walls, the people still felt the lingering effects of God's displeasure and the hardship of their situation, prompting this cry for His enduring favor.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled a significant portion of the population, marking a devastating turning point for the nation of Judah.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrew the Babylonian Empire, opening the door for Jewish exiles to return to their homeland.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus Allows Return
Cyrus issued a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, a pivotal moment of hope.
c. 516 BC
Completion of the Second Temple
After decades of effort and opposition, the Jewish community completed the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, a significant religious and national symbol.
c. 444 BC— this verse
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah led the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, facing significant opposition and restoring physical security to the city.
This passage describes God's character as merciful and slow to anger, directly contrasting with the Psalmist's plea that God's anger might not last forever.
Lamentations 5:20Here, the people also lament their prolonged suffering and question if God's anger will never cease, echoing the sentiment of Psalm 85:5.
Romans 11:29This verse speaks about God's unfailing promises and gifts to His people, suggesting that His love and calling are irrevocable, which offers a theological counterpoint to the idea of His anger lasting forever.
Isaiah 54:7-8God declares that His anger was only for a small moment and that His compassion is everlasting, directly addressing the fear of unending wrath expressed in Psalm 85:5.
Psalm 30:5This Psalm contrasts God's anger, which lasts 'but a moment,' with His favor, which lasts a lifetime, providing comfort and hope against the fear of perpetual divine displeasure.
clarkePsalms 85:5: "Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?"
Wilt thou draw out thine anger - We have already suffered much and long; our fathers have suffered, and we have succeeded to their distresses. Draw not out thy anger against us from generation to generation.
calvinPsalms 85:5-8: "Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?"
- Wilt thou be wroth against us for ever? wilt thou prolong thy displeasure from age to age? 6. Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us? and thy people will rejoice in thee. 7. Show us thy mercy, O Jehovah! and grant us thy salvation. 8. I will hear what God Jehovah will speak: surely he will speak peace to his people and to his meek ones, and they will not turn again to folly.
5 Wilt thou…
The question isn't just about the duration of God's anger, but about extending it, as if His wrath has a will of its own that needs to be actively "drawn out" from one generation to the next. This implies a desperate plea for God to intentionally stop prolonging His displeasure, rather than just letting it run its course.
The psalmist is lamenting a prolonged period of God's displeasure, likely stemming from the people's past sins and their continued consequences. This plea follows reflections on God's past favor and deliverance, highlighting a stark contrast with their current suffering. They're asking if this season of divine anger will never end, extending its harshness across all generations.
The psalmist is lamenting a prolonged period of God's displeasure, likely stemming from the people's past sins and their continued consequences. This plea follows reflections on God's past favor and deliverance, highlighting a stark contrast with their current suffering. They're asking if this season of divine anger will never end, extending its harshness across all generations.
"Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?" — The question isn't just about the duration of God's anger, but about extending it, as if His wrath has a will of its own that needs to be actively "drawn out" from one generation to the next. This…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026