Psa 87 | HCSB | STEP | A psalm of the sons of Korah . A song . His foundation is on the holy mountains .

Psalms 87

Zion, the City of God

1 A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.

His foundation is on the holy mountains. ^a
2 The Lord loves the gates of ^{▼▼Zion: Originally a term for the fortified section of Jerusalem and then, by extension, used for the temple and the city of Jerusalem both in the present time and in the future}Zion
more than all the dwellings of Jacob. ^c
3 Glorious things are said about you,
city of God. ^{d
,} ^{▼▼Selah: A Hebrew word whose meaning is uncertain; various interpretations include: (1) a musical notation, (2) a pause for silence, (3) a signal for worshipers to fall prostrate on the ground, (4) a term for the worshipers to call out, and (5) a word meaning "forever"}
Selah

4 “I will mention those who know Me:
^{▼▼Rahab: Or boisterous one, a mythological sea serpent or dragon defeated at the time of creation. Scripture sometimes uses the name metaphorically to describe Egypt.}Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and ^{▼▼Cush/ Cushite: The lands of the Nile in southern Egypt, including Nubia and Northern Sudan; the people who lived in that region}Cush –
each one was born there.” ^h
5 And it will be said of Zion,
“This one and that one were born in her.”
The ^{▼▼Most High: The Hebrew word is Elyon. It is often used with other names of God, such as El (God) or Yahweh (Lord); it is used to refer to God as the supreme being.}Most High Himself will establish her. ^j
6 When He registers the peoples,
the Lord will record,
“This one was born there.” ^{k
,} ^{▼▼Selah: A Hebrew word whose meaning is uncertain; various interpretations include: (1) a musical notation, (2) a pause for silence, (3) a signal for worshipers to fall prostrate on the ground, (4) a term for the worshipers to call out, and (5) a word meaning "forever"}
Selah

7 Singers and dancers alike will say,
“My whole source of joy is ^{▼▼Lit “All my springs, are} in you.” ⁿ