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In Praise of Jerusalem[a]

87 The Lord built his city on the sacred hill;[b]
    more than any other place in Israel
    he loves the city of Jerusalem.
Listen, city of God,
    to the wonderful things he says about you:

“I will include Egypt and Babylonia
    when I list the nations that obey me;
the people of Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia[c]
    I will number among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

Of Zion it will be said
    that all nations belong there
    and that the Almighty will make her strong.
The Lord will write a list of the peoples
    and include them all as citizens of Jerusalem.
They dance and sing,
    “In Zion is the source of all our blessings.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 87:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by the clan of Korah; a song.
  2. Psalm 87:1 See 2.6.
  3. Psalm 87:4 Hebrew Cush: Cush is the ancient name of the extensive territory south of the First Cataract of the Nile River. This region was called Ethiopia in Graeco-Roman time, and included within its borders most of modern Sudan and some of present-day Ethiopia (Abyssinia).

Psalm 87

The Joy of Living in Zion

Of the Korahites. A Psalm. A Song.

On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
    the Lord loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the dwellings of Jacob.(A)
Glorious things are spoken of you,
    O city of God. Selah(B)

Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
    Philistia, too, and Tyre, with Cush—
    “This one was born there,” they say.

And of Zion it shall be said,
    “This one and that one were born in it,”
    for the Most High himself will establish it.(C)
The Lord records, as he registers the peoples,
    “This one was born there.” Selah(D)

Singers and dancers alike say,
    “All my springs are in you.”(E)

87 (0) A psalm of the sons of Korach. A song:

(1) On the holy mountains is [the city’s] foundation.
Adonai loves the gates of Tziyon
more than all the dwellings in Ya‘akov.
Glorious things are said about you,
city of God. (Selah)

I count Rahav and Bavel
among those who know me;
Of P’leshet, Tzor and Ethiopia [they will say],
“This one was born there.”
But of Tziyon it will be said,
“This one and that was born in it,
for the Most High himself establishes it.”
When he registers the peoples, Adonai will record,
“This one was born there.” (Selah)

Singers and dancers alike say,
“For me, you are the source of everything.”

87 1-3 He founded Zion on the Holy Mountain—
    and oh, how God loves his home!
Loves it far better than all
    the homes of Jacob put together!
God’s hometown—oh!
    everyone there is talking about you!

I name them off, those among whom I’m famous:
    Egypt and Babylon,
    also Philistia,
    even Tyre, along with Cush.
Word’s getting around; they point them out:
    “This one was born again here!”

The word’s getting out on Zion:
    “Men and women, right and left,
    get born again in her!”

God registers their names in his book:
    “This one, this one, and this one—
    born again, right here.”

Singers and dancers give credit to Zion:
    “All my springs are in you!”

Psalm 87

Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.

He has founded his city on the holy mountain.(A)
The Lord loves the gates of Zion(B)
    more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.

Glorious things are said of you,
    city of God:[a](C)
“I will record Rahab[b](D) and Babylon
    among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia(E) too, and Tyre(F), along with Cush[c]
    and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”[d](G)
Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
    “This one and that one were born in her,
    and the Most High himself will establish her.”
The Lord will write in the register(H) of the peoples:
    “This one was born in Zion.”

As they make music(I) they will sing,
    “All my fountains(J) are in you.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 87:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
  2. Psalm 87:4 A poetic name for Egypt
  3. Psalm 87:4 That is, the upper Nile region
  4. Psalm 87:4 Or “I will record concerning those who acknowledge me: / ‘This one was born in Zion.’ / Hear this, Rahab and Babylon, / and you too, Philistia, Tyre and Cush.”