Psalm 84–86

Psalm 84^a

For the director of music. According to gittith.^b Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

¹How lovely is your dwelling place,^p

Lord Almighty!

²My soul yearns,^q even faints,

for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh cry out

for the living God.^r

³Even the sparrow has found a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may have her young—

a place near your altar,^s

Lord Almighty,^t my King^u and my God.^v

⁴Blessed are those who dwell in your house;

they are ever praising you.^c

⁵Blessed are those whose strength^w is in you,

whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.^x

⁶As they pass through the Valley of Baka,

they make it a place of springs;^y

the autumn^z rains also cover it with pools.^d

⁷They go from strength to strength,^a

till each appears^b before God in Zion.^c

⁸Hear my prayer,^d Lord God Almighty;

listen to me, God of Jacob.

⁹Look on our shield,^ee O God;

look with favor on your anointed one.^f

¹⁰Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper^g in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

¹¹For the Lord God is a sun^h and shield;ⁱ

the Lord bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold^j

from those whose walk is blameless.

¹²Lord Almighty,

blessed^k is the one who trusts in you.

Psalm 85^a

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

¹You, Lord, showed favor to your land;

you restored the fortunes^l of Jacob.

²You forgave^m the iniquityⁿ of your people

and covered all their sins.^b

³You set aside all your wrath^o

and turned from your fierce anger.^p

⁴Restore^q us again, God our Savior,^r

and put away your displeasure toward us.

⁵Will you be angry with us forever?^s

Will you prolong your anger through all generations?

⁶Will you not revive^t us again,

that your people may rejoice^u in you?

⁷Show us your unfailing love,^v Lord,

and grant us your salvation.^w

⁸I will listen to what God the Lord says;

he promises peace^x to his people, his faithful servants—

but let them not turn to folly.^y

⁹Surely his salvation^z is near those who fear him,

that his glory^a may dwell in our land.

¹⁰Love and faithfulness^b meet together;

righteousness^c and peace kiss each other.

¹¹Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,

and righteousness^d looks down from heaven.

¹²The Lord will indeed give what is good,^e

and our land will yield^f its harvest.

¹³Righteousness goes before him

and prepares the way for his steps.

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

¹Hear me, Lord, and answer^g me,

for I am poor and needy.

²Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;

save your servant who trusts in you.^h

You are my God; ³have mercyⁱ on me, Lord,

for I call^j to you all day long.

⁴Bring joy to your servant, Lord,

for I put my trust^k in you.

⁵You, Lord, are forgiving and good,

abounding in love^l to all who call to you.

⁶Hear my prayer, Lord;

listen to my cry^m for mercy.

⁷When I am in distress,ⁿ I call^o to you,

because you answer^p me.

⁸Among the gods^q there is none like you,^r Lord;

no deeds can compare with yours.

⁹All the nations you have made

will come^s and worship^t before you, Lord;

they will bring glory^u to your name.

¹⁰For you are great^v and do marvelous deeds;^w

you alone^x are God.

¹¹Teach me your way,^y Lord,

that I may rely on your faithfulness;^z

give me an undivided^a heart,

that I may fear^b your name.

¹²I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;^c

I will glorify your name forever.

¹³For great is your love toward me;

you have delivered me^d from the depths,

from the realm of the dead.^e

¹⁴Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;

ruthless people are trying to kill me—

they have no regard for you.^f

¹⁵But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious^g God,

slow to anger,^h aboundingⁱ in love and faithfulness.^j

¹⁶Turn to me^k and have mercy^l on me;

show your strength^m in behalf of your servant;

save me, because I serve you

just as my mother did.ⁿ

¹⁷Give me a sign^o of your goodness,

that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,

for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.