Psalm 84–86

Psalm 84

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.

¹How lovely is your dwelling place,

O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

²I long, yes, I faint with longing

to enter the courts of the Lord.

With my whole being, body and soul,

I will shout joyfully to the living God.

³Even the sparrow finds a home,

and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young

at a place near your altar,

O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!

⁴What joy for those who can live in your house,

always singing your praises.

Interlude

⁵What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,

who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

⁶When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,

it will become a place of refreshing springs.

The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.

⁷They will continue to grow stronger,

and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.

⁸O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.

Listen, O God of Jacob.

Interlude

⁹O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!

Show favor to the one you have anointed.

¹⁰A single day in your courts

is better than a thousand anywhere else!

I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God

than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.

¹¹For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.

He gives us grace and glory.

The Lord will withhold no good thing

from those who do what is right.

¹²O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

what joy for those who trust in you.

Psalm 85

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

¹Lord, you poured out blessings on your land!

You restored the fortunes of Israel.

²You forgave the guilt of your people—

yes, you covered all their sins.

Interlude

³You held back your fury.

You kept back your blazing anger.

⁴Now restore us again, O God of our salvation.

Put aside your anger against us once more.

⁵Will you be angry with us always?

Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?

⁶Won’t you revive us again,

so your people can rejoice in you?

⁷Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,

and grant us your salvation.

⁸I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,

for he speaks peace to his faithful people.

But let them not return to their foolish ways.

⁹Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,

so our land will be filled with his glory.

¹⁰Unfailing love and truth have met together.

Righteousness and peace have kissed!

¹¹Truth springs up from the earth,

and righteousness smiles down from heaven.

¹²Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings.

Our land will yield its bountiful harvest.

¹³Righteousness goes as a herald before him,

preparing the way for his steps.

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

¹Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;

answer me, for I need your help.

²Protect me, for I am devoted to you.

Save me, for I serve you and trust you.

You are my God.

³Be merciful to me, O Lord,

for I am calling on you constantly.

⁴Give me happiness, O Lord,

for I give myself to you.

⁵O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,

so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.

⁶Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;

hear my urgent cry.

⁷I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,

and you will answer me.

⁸No pagan god is like you, O Lord.

None can do what you do!

⁹All the nations you made

will come and bow before you, Lord;

they will praise your holy name.

¹⁰For you are great and perform wonderful deeds.

You alone are God.

¹¹Teach me your ways, O Lord,

that I may live according to your truth!

Grant me purity of heart,

so that I may honor you.

¹²With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.

I will give glory to your name forever,

¹³for your love for me is very great.

You have rescued me from the depths of death.

¹⁴O God, insolent people rise up against me;

a violent gang is trying to kill me.

You mean nothing to them.

¹⁵But you, O Lord,

are a God of compassion and mercy,

slow to get angry

and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

¹⁶Look down and have mercy on me.

Give your strength to your servant;

save me, the son of your servant.

¹⁷Send me a sign of your favor.

Then those who hate me will be put to shame,

for you, O Lord, help and comfort me.