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The Joy of Worshiping in the Temple

For the music director; on the Gittith.

Of the sons of Korah. A psalm.[a]

84 How lovely are your dwelling places,
O Yahweh of hosts!
My soul longs and even fails
for the courtyards of Yahweh.
My heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
Even a bird finds a home, and a swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
near your altars, O Yahweh of hosts,
my king and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;[b]
they can ever praise you. Selah
Blessed is the man whose strength is in you;
in their heart are the highways to Zion.
Passing through the Valley of Baca,[c]
they make it a spring.
The early rain covers it with blessings[d] as well.
They go from strength to strength,
until each appears before God in Zion.[e]
O Yahweh, God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah
Look at our shield, O God,
and have regard for the face of your anointed one.
10 Because better is a day in your courtyards
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be at the threshold of the house[f] of my God
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 Because Yahweh God is a sun and a shield;
Yahweh gives grace and honor.
He does not withhold good from those who walk blamelessly.
12 O Yahweh of hosts,
blessed is the man who trusts you.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 84:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  2. Psalm 84:4 Or “temple”
  3. Psalm 84:6 Or “Valley of Weeping”
  4. Psalm 84:6 A change in vocalization of the Hebrew yields “it with pools”
  5. Psalm 84:7 Or “the God of gods will be seen in Zion”
  6. Psalm 84:10 Or “temple”

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