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Psalm 84

For the worship leader. A song of the sons of Korah accompanied by the harp.[a]

How lovely is Your temple, Your dwelling place on earth,
    O Eternal One, Commander of heaven’s armies.
How I long to be there—my soul is spent,
    wanting, waiting to walk in the courts of the Eternal.
My whole being sings joyfully
    to the living God.
Just as the sparrow seeks her home,
    and the swallow finds in her own nest
    a place to lay her young,
I, too, seek Your altars, my King and my God,
    Commander of heaven’s armies.
How blessed are those who make Your house their home,
    who live with You;
    they are constantly praising You.

[pause][b]

Blessed are those who make You their strength,
    for they treasure every step of the journey [to Zion].[c]
On their way through the valley of Baca,
    they stop and dig wells to collect the refreshing spring water,
    and the early rains fill the pools.
They journey from place to place, gaining strength along the way;
    until they meet God in Zion.

O Eternal God, Commander of heaven’s armies, listen to my prayer.
    O please listen, God of Jacob.

[pause]

O True God, look at our shield, our protector,
    see the face of Your anointed king, and defend our defender.

10 Just one day in the courts of Your temple is greater
    than a thousand anywhere else.
I would rather serve as a porter at my God’s doorstep
    than live in luxury in the house of the wicked.
11 For the Eternal God is a sun and a shield.
    The Eternal grants favor and glory;
He doesn’t deny any good thing
    to those who live with integrity.
12 O Eternal One, Commander of heaven’s armies,
    how fortunate are those who trust You.

Footnotes

  1. 84:title Hebrew, gittith, a winepress or a musical instrument from Gath
  2. 84:4 Literally, selah, likely a musical direction from a Hebrew root meaning “to lift up”
  3. 84:5 Hebrew manuscripts omit this portion.

Psalm 84[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling place,(A)
    Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns,(B) even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.(C)
Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,(D)
    Lord Almighty,(E) my King(F) and my God.(G)
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.[c]

Blessed are those whose strength(H) is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(I)
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;(J)
    the autumn(K) rains also cover it with pools.[d]
They go from strength to strength,(L)
    till each appears(M) before God in Zion.(N)

Hear my prayer,(O) Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield,[e](P) O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.(Q)

10 Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(R) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(S) and shield;(T)
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(U)
    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed(V) is the one who trusts in you.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
  2. Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
  4. Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
  5. Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign