Psalm 84

Longing for God’s House

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

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 favor and honor;
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

Psalm 84

The Joy of Worship in the Temple

To the leader: according to The Gittith. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    O Lord of hosts!(A)
My soul longs, indeed it faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
    to the living God.(B)

Even the sparrow finds a home
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
    my King and my God.(C)
Happy are those who live in your house,
    ever singing your praise. Selah(D)

Happy are those whose strength is in you,
    in whose heart are the highways to Zion.[a](E)
As they go through the valley of Baca,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the early rain also covers it with pools.(F)
They go from strength to strength;
    the God of gods will be seen in Zion.(G)

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
    give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
Behold our shield, O God;
    look on the face of your anointed.(H)

10 For a day in your courts is better
    than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than live in the tents of wickedness.(I)
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    he bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does the Lord withhold
    from those who walk uprightly.(J)
12 O Lord of hosts,
    happy is everyone who trusts in you.(K)

Footnotes

  1. 84.5 Heb lacks to Zion