Psalm chapter 84
English Standard Version
1How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah 5Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. 8O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! 10For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
New International Version
1For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! 2My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
4Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. 5Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. 6As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. 8Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob.
New American Standard Bible
1 How lovely are Your dwelling places, Lord of armies! 2My soul longed and even yearned for the courtyards of the Lord; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3The bird also has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may put her young: Your altars, Lord of armies, My King and my God. 4Blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. Selah 5Blessed is the person whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the roads to Zion! 6Passing through the Valley of Baca they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings. 7They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion. 8Lord God of armies, hear my prayer; Listen, God of Jacob! Selah 9See our shield, God, And look at the face of Your anointed. 10For a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than live in the tents of wickedness. 11For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity. 12Lord of armies, Blessed is the person who trusts in You!
Christian Standard Bible
2I long and yearn for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God. 3Even a sparrow finds a home, and a swallow, a nest for herself where she places her young— near your altars, Lord of Armies, my King and my God.
4How happy are those who reside in your house, who praise you continually. Selah 5Happy are the people whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. 6As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a source of springwater; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings.
9Consider our shield, God; look on the face of your anointed one. 10Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wicked people. 11For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord grants favor and honor; he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity. 12Happy is the person who trusts in you, Lord of Armies!
New Living Translation
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 2I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God. 3Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
5What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 6When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. 7They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
10A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. 11For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. 12O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.
King James Version
New King James Version
1{To the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.} 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. 3Even 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.
5Blessed 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. 7They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion.
9 O God, behold our shield, And look upon the face of Your anointed. 10For 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. 11For 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. 12O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!
What does Psalm chapter 84 mean?
The Sons of Korah appear to be a collection of temple singers associated with worship (2 Chronicles 20:19). This psalm may be dedicated to them or written in a style associated with their ministry. Likewise, the term gittiyth may mean a musical pattern or a specific instrument. Other psalms that directly mention the Sons of Korah are Psalms 42, 44—49, 85, and 87—88. Psalms 42 and 43 involve closely related themes.The psalmist is overjoyed at the thought of worshipping in the temple. The song notes that birds make nests near the altars; this would have been literally true, and the psalmist may be wishing he could also live so close to the Lord's presence. Mention of birds may also imply the safety which comes from being close to God (Psalm 84:1–4).
Jewish males were required to attend three designated celebrations in Jerusalem if they lived close enough to make the journey (Deuteronomy 16:16). This psalm speaks of their joy: they get stronger as they come closer, despite their long travels. Even the hardships of the journey seem pleasant because their path leads to Zion: another name for the city of Jerusalem (Psalm 84:5–7).
God is the "LORD of hosts:" the commander of the armies of heaven. The psalmist appeals to God's power and protection for those who honor Him. To be at the center of worship for a single day is better than being anywhere else for years. The Hebrew phrase often interpreted to mean a "doorkeeper" most commonly means standing or laying at the threshold. The psalmist would rather take that humble position than live in relative comfort with those who do not love the Lord (Psalm 84:8–12).
