Psalms 84
[1]The Psalmist longing for the temple worship, [4]sheweth the blessedness of attending thereupon: [8]he prayeth to be restored to it.
To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
1. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
2. My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
3. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.
4. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
6. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
7. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
8. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
9. Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
10. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
12. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
NKJV
1.
How lovely is Your tabernacle,
O Lord of hosts!
2.
My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,
My King and my God.
4.
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
They will still be praising You. Selah
5.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
7.
They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.
8.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9.
O God, behold our shield,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.
10.
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.
12.
O Lord of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!
How lovely is Your tabernacle,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,
My King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
They will still be praising You. Selah
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
O God, behold our shield,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!
Metrical version
Psalm 84
C.M. Wetherby
How lovely is thy dwelling-place, O LORD of hosts, to me! The tabernacles of thy grace how pleasant, LORD, they be! My thirsty soul longs veh'mently, yea faints, thy courts to see: My very heart and flesh cry out, O living God, for thee. Behold, the sparrow findeth out an house wherein to rest; The swallow also for herself hath purchased a nest; Ev'n thine own altars, where she safe her young ones forth may bring, O thou almighty LORD of hosts, who art my God and King. Bless'd are they in thy house that dwell, they ever give thee praise. Bless'd is the man whose strength thou art, in whose heart are thy ways: Who passing thorough Baca's vale, therein do dig up wells; Also the rain that falleth down the pools with water fills. So they from strength unwearied go still forward unto strength, Until in Zion they appear before the Lord at length. LORD God of hosts, my prayer hear; O Jacob's God, give ear. See God our shield, look on the face of thine anointed dear. For in thy courts one day excels a thousand; rather in My God's house will I keep a door, than dwell in tents of sin. For God the LORD's a sun and shield: he'll grace and glory give; And will withhold no good from them that uprightly do live. O thou that art the LORD of hosts, that man is truly blessed, Who by assured confidence on thee alone doth rest.
This psalm is much like the 27th, 42nd, 43rd, and 63rd, and may have been composed on the same occasion with the former, when David was banished from Jerusalem by Absalom his son, 2 Sam. 15-16. We have here, (1.) David's ardent affection towards the public ordinances of God, and sense of their happiness who enjoyed them, ver. 1-7, 10. (2.) His heart-burning desire to the God of ordinances, ver. 8-9. (3.) His assured faith of God's kindness, and persuasion of the happiness of such as trust in him, ver. 11-12.
So let my heart cry out for God, the living God. So let me covet earnestly intimate fellowship with him in his ordinances. So let me praise his name, and hold on in his way, till I arrive at the Zion above. So let God be my friend, my protector, my supplier, my store, and the everlasting rock of my rest.