Psa 84 | HCSB | STEP | For the choir director : on the Gittith . A psalm of the sons of Korah . How lovely is Your dwelling place , Lord of Hosts .

Psalms 84

Longing for God’s House

1 For the choir director: on the ^{▼▼Gittith: Perhaps an instrument, musical term, tune from Gath, or song for the grape harvest}Gittith. ^b A psalm of the sons of Korah.

How lovely is Your dwelling place,
Lord of ^{▼▼Hosts/hosts: Military forces consisting of God's angels, sometimes including the sun, moon, and stars, and occasionally, Israel}Hosts. ^d
2 I long and yearn
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh cry out for ^{▼▼Or flesh shout for joy to} the living God. ^f

3 Even a sparrow finds a home,
and a swallow, a nest for herself
where she places her young –
near Your altars, Lord of Hosts,
my King and my God. ^g
4 How happy are those who reside in Your house,
who praise You continually. ^{h
,} ^{▼▼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

5 Happy are the people whose strength is in You,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. ^j
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, ^{▼▼Or Valley of Tears}
they make it a source of springwater;
even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings. ^{▼▼Or pools
,} ^m
7 They go from strength to strength;
each appears before God in ^{▼▼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. ^o

8 Lord God of Hosts, hear my prayer;
listen, God of Jacob. ^{p
,} ^{▼▼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

9 Consider our shield, ^{▼▼= the king} God; ^s
look on the face of Your anointed one. ^t

10 Better a day in Your courts
than a thousand anywhere else.
I would rather be at the door of the house of my God
than to live in the tents of wicked people. ^u
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield. ^v
The Lord gives grace and glory;
He does not withhold the good
from those who live with integrity. ^w
12 Happy is the person who trusts in You,
Lord of Hosts! ^x