Psalm 84

For the choir director; on the gittith; a psalm by Korah’s descendants. 

1  Your dwelling place is lovely, O Lord of Armies! 

2  My soul longs and yearns 

for the Lord’s courtyards. 

My whole body shouts for joy to the living God. 

3  Even sparrows find a home, 

and swallows find a nest for themselves. 

There they hatch their young 

near your altars, O Lord of Armies, 

my king and my God. 

4  Blessed are those who live in your house. 

They are always praising you. 

Selah 

5  Blessed are those who find strength in you. 

Their hearts are on the road ⸤that leads to you⸥. 

6  As they pass through a valley where balsam trees grow,b

they make it a place of springs. 

The early rains cover it with blessings.c

7  Their strength grows as they go along 

until each one of them appears 

in front of God in Zion. 

8  O Lord God, commander of armies, hear my prayer. 

Open your ears, O God of Jacob. 

Selah 

9  Look at our shield, O God. 

Look with favor on the face of your anointed one. 

10  One day in your courtyards is better than a thousand ⸤anywhere else⸥. 

I would rather stand in the entrance to my God’s house 

than live inside wicked people’s homes. 

11  The Lord God is a sun and shield. 

The Lord grants favor and honor. 

He does not hold back any blessing 

from those who live innocently. 

12  O Lord of Armies, blessed is the person who trusts you.