Psalms 84

1 For the Chief Musician; set to the Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Jehovah of hosts!

For the music director. A psalm of the descendants of Korah. On the gittith. How wonderful is the place where you live, Lord Almighty!

2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of Jehovah; My heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God.

I long, I ache, to be in the courts of the Lord. My mind and my body sing for joy to the living God.

3 Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts, My King, and my God.

Even a sparrow finds a home there, and a swallow builds a nest for herself where she can raise her chicks near to your altars, Lord Almighty, my king and my God.

4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: They will be still praising thee. (Selah)

How happy are those who live in your house—they are always praising you! (Selah)

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; In whose heart are the highways [to Zion].

How happy are those whose strength is in you, those who are determined to make a pilgrimage.

6 Passing through the valley of Weeping they make it a place of springs; Yea, the early rain covereth it with blessings.

As they walk through the Valley of Tears it becomes a spring of water; autumn rains cover it with pools.

7 They go from strength to strength; Every one of them appeareth before God in Zion.

They go from strength to strength, and each one will appear before God in Jerusalem.

8 O Jehovah God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob. (Selah)

Lord God Almighty, please hear my prayer; please listen, God of Jacob. (Selah)

9 Behold, O God our shield, And look upon the face of thine anointed.

Please God, look at our defender, look at the face of your anointed one.

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.

One day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else. I'd rather stand as a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live comfortably in the homes of the wicked.

11 For Jehovah God is a sun and a shield: Jehovah will give grace and glory; No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

For the Lord God is our sun and shield, and he gives us grace and honor. The Lord doesn't hold back anything good from those who do right.

12 O Jehovah of hosts, Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Lord Almighty, how happy are those who trust in you.