Bring in the Year of Jubilee (Psalm 37)

Psalm 37 sets the shape of this song, and the title names it. The first verse repeats "the meek will inherit the earth," a line from Psalm 37:11, and adds "first will be last and the last will be first," from Matthew 20:16. A second verse gives the other side: "the wicked will lose what they stole, all that they thought they could own and control."

The refrain turns to the biblical year of release. "Jubilee now is the year of His favor, Jubilee rest for the weary creation now, bring in the year of Jubilee" draws on Leviticus 25:10, where land and debts are returned, and Luke 4:19, where Jesus announces the year of the Lord's favor. The word "creation" widens the rest beyond people to the earth itself.

A short call to action sits in the middle, "turn now from evil to good, then we will dwell in the land as we should." Another verse imagines relief for the earth, "the earth will sigh with relief; there is more than enough for the hungry to feed." The lyric is short, so the chorus does most of the work.