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Psalm 87[a]

Zion the True Birthplace

(A)A psalm of the Korahites. A song.

I

    His foundation is on holy mountains,
The Lord loves the gates[b] of Zion
    more than any dwelling in Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
    O city of God!
Selah

II

Rahab and Babylon I count
    among those who know me.
See, Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia,
    “This one was born there.”
[c]And of Zion it will be said:
    “Each one was born in it.”(B)
The Most High will establish it;(C)
    the Lord notes in the register of the peoples:
    “This one was born there.”(D)
Selah
So singers and dancers:
    “All my springs are in you.”(E)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 87 A song of Zion, like Ps 46; 48; 76; 132.
  2. 87:2 The gates: the city itself, a common Hebrew idiom.
  3. 87:5–6 The bond between the exile and the holy city was so strong as to override the exile’s citizenship of lesser cities.

87 His foundation is in the holy mountains.

The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.

And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.

The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.