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A Desire for God’s House

84 How beautiful are the places where You live, O Lord of all! My soul wants and even becomes weak from wanting to be in the house of the Lord. My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the bird has found a home. The swallow has found a nest for herself where she may lay her young at Your altars, O Lord of all, my King and my God. How happy are those who live in Your house! They are always giving thanks to You.

How happy is the man whose strength is in You and in whose heart are the roads to Zion! As they pass through the dry valley of Baca, they make it a place of good water. The early rain fills the pools with good also. They go from strength to strength. Every one of them stands before God in Zion.

O Lord God of all, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob. Look upon our safe-covering, O God. And look upon the face of Your chosen one. 10 For a day in Your house is better than a thousand outside. I would rather be the one who opens the door of the house of my God, than to live in the tents of the sinful. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and a safe-covering. The Lord gives favor and honor. He holds back nothing good from those who walk in the way that is right. 12 O Lord of all, how happy is the man who trusts in You!

A Prayer for the Nation’s Good

85 O Lord, You showed favor to Your land. You have returned those of Jacob who were taken away. You have forgiven the sins of Your people. You have covered all their sin. You have taken away all Your anger. You have turned away from Your burning anger.

O God Who saves us, give us life again. Make Your anger toward us stop. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You spread out Your anger to families of all times? Will You not bring us back to life again so that Your people may be happy in You? Show us Your loving-kindness, O Lord, and save us.

I will listen to what God the Lord will say. For He will speak peace to His people, to those who are right with Him. But do not let them turn again to foolish things. For sure His saving power is near those who fear Him, so His shining-greatness may live in the land. 10 Loving-kindness and truth have met together. Peace and what is right and good have kissed each other. 11 Truth comes up from the earth. And what is right and good looks down from heaven. 12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good. And our land will give its fruit. 13 What is right and good will go before Him and make a way for His steps.

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.