84  For the musical director: a song by Korah’s descendants to be accompanied by stringed instruments.[fn]

1 How lovely is the place where you live,

Commander-in-chief Yahweh.

2 I long to be in Yahweh’s temple courtyards—my desire for them has made me exhausted.

My heart and all of my being call out to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow has found herself a house,

≈ and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young

near your altars, Commander-in-chief Yahweh, my King, and my god.

4 Blessed are they who live in your house;

They praise you continually. (Instrumental break.)

5 Blessed is the person who trusts you for their strength—

who thinks about how to travel to Mt. Tsiyon (Zion).

6 Passing through the Valley of Tears, they find springs of water to drink.

The early rains cover it with blessings.

7 They go from strength to strength.

Every one of them appears before God in Tsiyon.

8 Commander-in-chief God Yahweh, hear my prayer.

≈ God of Ya’akov (Jacob), listen to what I’m saying. (Instrumental break.)

9 God, watch over our defender.

Show concern for your anointed one.

10 Yes, one day in your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in my god’s house,

than to live in the tents of the wicked,

11 because Yahweh God is our sun and shield.

Yahweh will give grace and glory.

He doesn’t withhold any good thing from those who walk in integrity.

12 Commander-in-chief Yahweh,

blessed is the person who trusts in you.