Psalms 84

1 For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of Hosts!

For the music director. A psalm of the descendants of Korah. On the gittith. How wonderful is the place where you live, Lord Almighty!

2 My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

I long, I ache, to be in the courts of the Lord. My mind and my body sing for joy to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she places her young near Your altars, O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God.

Even a sparrow finds a home there, and a swallow builds a nest for herself where she can raise her chicks near to your altars, Lord Almighty, my king and my God.

4 How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You.

How happy are those who live in your house—they are always praising you! (Selah)

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

How happy are those whose strength is in you, those who are determined to make a pilgrimage.

6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; even the autumn rain covers it with pools.

As they walk through the Valley of Tears it becomes a spring of water; autumn rains cover it with pools.

7 They go from strength to strength, until each appears before God in Zion.

They go from strength to strength, and each one will appear before God in Jerusalem.

8 O LORD God of Hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob.

Lord God Almighty, please hear my prayer; please listen, God of Jacob. (Selah)

9 Take notice of our shield, O God, and look with favor on the face of Your anointed.

Please God, look at our defender, look at the face of your anointed one.

10 For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

One day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else. I'd rather stand as a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live comfortably in the homes of the wicked.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.

For the Lord God is our sun and shield, and he gives us grace and honor. The Lord doesn't hold back anything good from those who do right.

12 O LORD of Hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Lord Almighty, how happy are those who trust in you.