The Lord Has Chosen Zion

A Song of (A)Ascents.

132 Remember, O Lord, in David's favor,
    all (B)the hardships he endured,
how he swore to the Lord
    and (C)vowed to (D)the Mighty One of Jacob,
“I will not enter my house
    or get into my bed,
I will not (E)give sleep to my eyes
    or slumber to my eyelids,
until I (F)find a place for the Lord,
    a dwelling place for (G)the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Behold, we heard of it in (H)Ephrathah;
    we found it in (I)the fields of Jaar.
“Let us go to his dwelling place;
    let us (J)worship at his (K)footstool!”

(L)Arise, O Lord, and go to your (M)resting place,
    you and the ark of your (N)might.
Let your (O)priests be (P)clothed with righteousness,
    and let your (Q)saints shout for joy.
10 For the sake of your servant David,
    (R)do not turn away the face of (S)your anointed one.

11 (T)The Lord swore to David a sure oath
    (U)from which he will not turn back:
(V)“One of the sons of your body[a]
    I will set on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant
    and my testimonies that I shall teach them,
their sons also forever
    shall (W)sit on your throne.”

13 For the Lord has (X)chosen Zion;
    he has (Y)desired it for his dwelling place:
14 “This is my (Z)resting place forever;
    here I will (AA)dwell, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly (AB)bless her provisions;
    I will (AC)satisfy her poor with bread.
16 Her (AD)priests I will clothe with salvation,
    and her (AE)saints will shout for joy.
17 There I will make (AF)a horn to sprout for David;
    I have prepared (AG)a lamp for (AH)my anointed.
18 His enemies I will (AI)clothe with shame,
    but on him his crown will shine.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 132:11 Hebrew of your fruit of the womb

132 1-5 O God, remember David,
    remember all his troubles!
And remember how he promised God,
    made a vow to the Strong God of Jacob,
“I’m not going home,
    and I’m not going to bed,
I’m not going to sleep,
    not even take time to rest,
Until I find a home for God,
    a house for the Strong God of Jacob.”

6-7 Remember how we got the news in Ephrathah,
    learned all about it at Jaar Meadows?
We shouted, “Let’s go to the shrine dedication!
    Let’s worship at God’s own footstool!”

8-10 Up, God, enjoy your new place of quiet repose,
    you and your mighty covenant ark;
Get your priests all dressed up in justice;
    prompt your worshipers to sing this prayer:
“Honor your servant David;
    don’t disdain your anointed one.”

11-18 God gave David his word,
    he won’t back out on this promise:
“One of your sons
    I will set on your throne;
If your sons stay true to my Covenant
    and learn to live the way I teach them,
Their sons will continue the line—
    always a son to sit on your throne.
Yes—I, God, chose Zion,
    the place I wanted for my shrine;
This will always be my home;
    this is what I want, and I’m here for good.
I’ll shower blessings on the pilgrims who come here,
    and give supper to those who arrive hungry;
I’ll dress my priests in salvation clothes;
    the holy people will sing their hearts out!
Oh, I’ll make the place radiant for David!
    I’ll fill it with light for my anointed!
I’ll dress his enemies in dirty rags,
    but I’ll make his crown sparkle with splendor.”