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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!
I want to be in
    the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple.
My whole being wants
    to be with the living God.
The 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.
Happy are the people who live at your Temple.
    They are always praising you. Selah

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

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

10 One 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.
11 The 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.
12 Lord of heaven’s armies,
    happy are the people who trust you!

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