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Longing for God’s House

For the choir director: on the Gittith.(A) A psalm of the sons of Korah.

84 How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord of Armies.(B)
I long and yearn
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh cry out for[a] the living God.(C)

Even a sparrow finds a home,
and a swallow, a nest for herself
where she places her young –
near your altars, Lord of Armies,
my King and my God.(D)
How happy are those who reside in your house,
who praise you continually.(E) Selah

Happy are the people whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(F)
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,[b]
they make it a source of spring water;
even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings.[c](G)
They go from strength to strength;
each appears before God in Zion.(H)

Lord God of Armies, hear my prayer;
listen, God of Jacob.(I) Selah
Consider our shield,[d] God;(J)
look on the face of your anointed one.(K)

10 Better a day in your courts
than a thousand anywhere else.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
than live in the tents of wicked people.(L)
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield.(M)
The Lord grants favour and honour;
he does not withhold the good
from those who live with integrity.(N)
12 Happy is the person who trusts in you,
Lord of Armies!(O)

Footnotes

  1. 84:2 Or flesh shout for joy to
  2. 84:6 Or Valley of Tears
  3. 84:6 Or pools
  4. 84:9 = the king

(For the music leader.[a] A psalm by the clan of Korah.)

The Joy of Worship

Lord God All-Powerful,
    your temple is so lovely!
Deep in my heart I long
    for your temple,
and with all that I am
    I sing joyful songs to you.

Lord God All-Powerful,
    my King and my God,
sparrows find a home
    near your altars;
swallows build nests there
    to raise their young.

You bless everyone
who lives in your house,
    and they sing your praises.
You bless all who depend
    on you for their strength
and all who deeply desire
    to visit your temple.
When they reach Dry Valley,[b]
    springs start flowing,
and the autumn rain fills it
    with pools of water.[c]
Your people grow stronger,
and you, the God of gods,
    will be seen in Zion.

Lord God All-Powerful,
the God of Jacob,
    please answer my prayer!
You are the shield
    that protects your people,
and I am your chosen one.
    Won't you smile on me?

10 One day in your temple
is better than a thousand
    anywhere else.
I would rather serve
    in your house,
than live in the homes
    of the wicked.

11 Our Lord and our God,
you are like the sun
    and also like a shield.
You treat us with kindness
    and with honor,
never denying any good thing
    to those who live right.

12 Lord God All-Powerful,
you bless everyone
    who trusts you.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 84 leader: See the note at Psalm 8.
  2. 84.6 Dry Valley: Or “Balsam Tree Valley.” The exact location is not known.
  3. 84.6 and … water: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.