Psalm 84

Expanded Bible

Wishing to Be in the Temple

For the director of music. On the gittith [^Cperhaps a musical term or instrument]. A psalm of the sons of Korah [^Cdescendants of Kohath, son of Levi, who served as temple musicians; 1 Chr. 6:22].

84 Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts],
    how lovely is your ·Temple [^Lresidence; dwelling place]!
²I ·want more than anything
    to be in [^Llong, even faint for] the courtyards of the ·Lord’s Temple [^LLord].
My ·whole being wants
    to be with [^Lheart/mind and flesh sing for joy to] the living God.
³The sparrows have found a home,
    and the swallows have nests.
They raise their young near your altars,
    Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts], my King and my God.
⁴·Happy [Blessed] are the people who live at your ·Temple [^Lhouse];
    they are always praising you. ·Selah [Interlude]

⁵·Happy [Blessed] are those whose strength comes from you,
    ·who want to travel to Jerusalem [^Lin whose hearts are highways; ^Cthey want to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate religious festivals].
⁶As they pass through the Valley of Baca [^C“weeping,” location unknown],
    they make it ·like [^La place with] a spring.
    The ·autumn [early] rains ·fill [wrap; cover] it with ·pools of water [or blessings].
⁷The people ·get stronger as they go [^Lgo from strength to strength],
    and everyone ·meets with [^Lsees] ·God [^Lthe God of gods] in ·Jerusalem [^LZion; ^Cthe location of the Temple].

⁸Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts], hear my prayer;
God of Jacob [^Canother name for Israel], ·listen to me [give ear]. ·Selah [Interlude]
⁹God, look at our shield [^Cthe king];
be kind to your ·appointed king [anointed; Messiah; ^Cthe king, ultimately Jesus; Acts 4:25–28].

¹⁰One day in your courtyards is better
    than a thousand days anywhere else.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the Temple of my God
    than live in the ·homes [^Ltents] of the wicked.
¹¹The Lord God is like a sun and shield;
    the Lord gives us ·kindness [mercy; grace] and ·honor [glory].
He does not hold back anything good
    from those ·whose lives are innocent [^Lwho walk in innocence/blamelessness].
¹²Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts],
    ·happy [blessed] are the people who ·trust [have confidence in] you!