Add parallel Print Page Options

(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.

84 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.