Psalm 84

Longing for God’s House

For the choir director: on the Gittith.(A) A psalm of the sons of Korah.

How lovely is Your dwelling place,
Lord of Hosts.(B)
I long and yearn
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh cry out for[a] the living God.(C)

Even a sparrow finds a home,
and a swallow, a nest for herself
where she places her young—
near Your altars, Lord of Hosts,
my King and my God.(D)
How happy are those who reside in Your house,
who praise You continually.(E)Selah

Happy are the people whose strength is in You,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(F)
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,[b]
they make it a source of springwater;
even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings.[c](G)
They go from strength to strength;
each appears before God in Zion.(H)

Lord God of Hosts, hear my prayer;
listen, God of Jacob.(I)Selah
Consider our shield,[d] God;(J)
look on the face of Your anointed one.(K)

10 Better a day in Your courts
than a thousand anywhere else.
I would rather be at the door of the house of my God
than to live in the tents of wicked people.(L)
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield.(M)
The Lord gives grace and glory;
He does not withhold the good
from those who live with integrity.(N)
12 Happy is the person who trusts in You,
Lord of Hosts!(O)

Psalm 85

Restoration of Favor

For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

Lord, You showed favor to Your land;(P)
You restored Jacob’s prosperity.[e](Q)
You took away Your people’s guilt;
You covered all their sin.(R)Selah
You withdrew all Your fury;
You turned from Your burning anger.(S)

Return to us, God of our salvation,
and abandon Your displeasure with us.(T)
Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger for all generations?(U)
Will You not revive us again
so that Your people may rejoice in You?(V)
Show us Your faithful love, Lord,
and give us Your salvation.(W)

I will listen to what God will say;
surely the Lord will declare peace
to His people, His godly ones,
and not let them go back to foolish ways.(X)
His salvation is very near those who fear Him,
so that glory may dwell in our land.(Y)

10 Faithful love and truth will join together;
righteousness and peace will embrace.(Z)
11 Truth will spring up from the earth,
and righteousness will look down from heaven.(AA)
12 Also, the Lord will provide what is good,
and our land will yield its crops.(AB)
13 Righteousness will go before Him
to prepare the way for His steps.(AC)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 84:2 Or flesh shout for joy to
  2. Psalm 84:6 Or Valley of Tears
  3. Psalm 84:6 Or pools
  4. Psalm 84:9 = the king
  5. Psalm 85:1 Or restored Jacob from captivity

Psalm 84[a]

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

How lovely is your dwelling place,(A)
    Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns,(B) even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.(C)
Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,(D)
    Lord Almighty,(E) my King(F) and my God.(G)
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.[c]

Blessed are those whose strength(H) is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(I)
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;(J)
    the autumn(K) rains also cover it with pools.[d]
They go from strength to strength,(L)
    till each appears(M) before God in Zion.(N)

Hear my prayer,(O) Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield,[e](P) O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.(Q)

10 Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(R) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(S) and shield;(T)
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(U)
    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed(V) is the one who trusts in you.

Psalm 85[f]

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

You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
    you restored the fortunes(W) of Jacob.
You forgave(X) the iniquity(Y) of your people
    and covered all their sins.[g]
You set aside all your wrath(Z)
    and turned from your fierce anger.(AA)

Restore(AB) us again, God our Savior,(AC)
    and put away your displeasure toward us.
Will you be angry with us forever?(AD)
    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive(AE) us again,
    that your people may rejoice(AF) in you?
Show us your unfailing love,(AG) Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.(AH)

I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace(AI) to his people, his faithful servants—
    but let them not turn to folly.(AJ)
Surely his salvation(AK) is near those who fear him,
    that his glory(AL) may dwell in our land.

10 Love and faithfulness(AM) meet together;
    righteousness(AN) and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness(AO) looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,(AP)
    and our land will yield(AQ) its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
  2. Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
  4. Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
  5. Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign
  6. Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.
  7. Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.