Longing for the Temple Worship.

For the choir director; [a]on the Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

84 How lovely are Your (A)dwelling places,
O Lord of hosts!
My (B)soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the (C)living God.
The bird also has found a house,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,
Even Your (D)altars, O Lord of hosts,
(E)My King and my God.
How (F)blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
They are (G)ever praising You. [b]Selah.

How blessed is the man whose (H)strength is in You,
In [c]whose heart are the (I)highways to Zion!
Passing through the valley of [d]Baca they make it a [e]spring;
The (J)early rain also covers it with blessings.
They (K)go from strength to strength,
[f]Every one of them (L)appears before God in Zion.

O (M)Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O (N)God of Jacob! Selah.
Behold our (O)shield, O God,
And look upon the face of (P)Your anointed.
10 For (Q)a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is (R)a sun and (S)shield;
The Lord gives grace and (T)glory;
(U)No good thing does He withhold [g]from those who walk [h]uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
How (V)blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 84:1 Or according to
  2. Psalm 84:4 Selah may mean: Pause, Crescendo or Musical interlude
  3. Psalm 84:5 Lit their
  4. Psalm 84:6 Probably, Weeping; or Balsam trees
  5. Psalm 84:6 Or place of springs
  6. Psalm 84:7 Some ancient versions read The God of gods will be seen in Zion
  7. Psalm 84:11 Lit with regard to
  8. Psalm 84:11 Lit with integrity

Psalm 84[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling place,(A)
    Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns,(B) even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.(C)
Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,(D)
    Lord Almighty,(E) my King(F) and my God.(G)
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.[c]

Blessed are those whose strength(H) is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(I)
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;(J)
    the autumn(K) rains also cover it with pools.[d]
They go from strength to strength,(L)
    till each appears(M) before God in Zion.(N)

Hear my prayer,(O) Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield,[e](P) O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.(Q)

10 Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(R) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(S) and shield;(T)
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(U)
    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed(V) is the one who trusts in you.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
  2. Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
  4. Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
  5. Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign