Psalm 84

Longing for the Lord’s Temple

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.*84: title Hebrew according to the gittith.

1How 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!

4What joy for those who can live in your house,

always singing your praises.

Interlude

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,*84:6 Or Valley of Poplars; Hebrew reads valley of Baca.

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.*84:7 Hebrew Zion.

8O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.

Listen, O God of Jacob.

Interlude

9O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!

Show favor to the one you have anointed.

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.

Psalm 85

A Prayer for Revival

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

1Lord, you poured out blessings on your land!

You restored the fortunes of Israel.*85:1 Hebrew of Jacob. See note on 44:4.

2You forgave the guilt of your people—

yes, you covered all their sins.

Interlude

3You held back your fury.

You kept back your blazing anger.

4Now restore us again, O God of our salvation.

Put aside your anger against us once more.

5Will you be angry with us always?

Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?

6Won’t you revive us again,

so your people can rejoice in you?

7Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,

and grant us your salvation.

8I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,

for he speaks peace to his faithful people.

But let them not return to their foolish ways.

9Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,

so our land will be filled with his glory.

10Unfailing love and truth have met together.

Righteousness and peace have kissed!

11Truth springs up from the earth,

and righteousness smiles down from heaven.

12Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings.

Our land will yield its bountiful harvest.

13Righteousness goes as a herald before him,

preparing the way for his steps.