Psalm 84

International Children’s Bible

Wishing to Be in the Temple

For the director of music. By the gittith. A song of the sons of Korah.

84 Lord of heaven’s armies,
    how lovely is your Temple!
²I want to be in
    the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple.
My whole being wants
    to be with the living God.
³The sparrows have found a home.
    And the swallows have nests.
They raise their young near your altars,
    Lord of heaven’s armies, my King and my God.
⁴Happy are the people who live at your Temple.
    They are always praising you. Selah

⁵Happy are those whose strength comes from you.
    They want to travel to Jerusalem.
⁶As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
    they make it like a spring.
    The autumn rains fill it with pools of water.
⁷The people get stronger as they go.
    And everyone meets with God in Jerusalem.

⁸Lord God of heaven’s armies, hear my prayer.
God of Jacob, listen to me. Selah
⁹God, look at our shield.
Be kind to your appointed king.

¹⁰One day in the courtyards of your Temple is better
    than a thousand days anywhere else.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the Temple of my God
    than live in the homes of the wicked.
¹¹The Lord God is like our sun and shield.
    The Lord gives us kindness and glory.
He does not hold back anything good
    from those whose life is innocent.
¹²Lord of heaven’s armies,
    happy are the people who trust you!