Psalms 84

1 For the end, a Psalm for the sons of Core, concerning the wine-presses. How amiable are thy tabernacles, 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, and faints for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh have exulted in 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 Yea, the sparrow has found himself a home, and the turtle-dove a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, [even] thine 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 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will praise thee evermore. (Pause)

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

5 Blessed is the man whose help is of thee, O Lord; in his heart he has purposed to go up

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

6 the valley of weeping, to the place which he has appointed, for [there] the law-giver will grant blessings.

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

7 They shall go from strength to strength: the God of gods shall be seen in Sion.

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

8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: hearken, O God of Jacob. (Pause)

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

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

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

10 For one day in thy courts is better than thousands. I would rather be an abject in the house of God, than dwell in the tents of sinners.

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 loves mercy and truth: God will give grace and glory: the Lord will not withhold good things from them that walk in innocence.

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, blessed is the man that trusts in thee.

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