Longing for God’s House

¹How lovely is your dwelling place,

Lord of Armies.

²I long and yearn

for the courts of the Lord ;

my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.

³Even 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.

⁴How happy are those who reside in your house,

who praise you continually. Selah

⁵Happy are the people whose strength is in you,

whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

⁶As they pass through the Valley of Baca,[#84:6 Or Valley of Tears]

they make it a source of spring water;

even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings. ,

⁷They go from strength to strength;

each appears before God in Zion.

⁸Lord God of Armies, hear my prayer;

listen, God of Jacob. Selah

⁹Consider our shield, God;[#84:9 = the king; #84:9 Ps 3:3; 115:9–11]

look on the face of your anointed one.

¹⁰Better 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.

¹¹For the Lord God is a sun and shield.[#84:11 Ps 3:3; 5:12; 18:2; 28:7; 119:114; Is 60:19–20; Rv 21:23]

The Lord grants favour and honour;

he does not withhold the good

from those who live with integrity.

¹²Happy is the person who trusts in you,

Lord of Armies!