For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1How lovely is your dwelling-place, Lord Almighty![1]2My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.3Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young – a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.4Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.[2]5Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.6As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.[3]7They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.8Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob.9Look on our shield,[4] O God; look with favour on your anointed one.10Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.11For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose way of life is blameless.12Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.
1To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith.[1] A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! (Ps 8:1; Ps 27:4; Ps 42:1; Ps 43:3; Ps 81:1; Ps 132:5)2My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. (Job 19:27; Ps 42:1; Ps 42:2; Ps 63:1; Ps 73:26; Ps 119:81; Ps 143:6)3Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. (Ps 5:2)4Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! (Ps 42:5; Ps 42:11; Ps 43:5; Ps 65:4)5Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.[2] (Ps 122:1)6As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. (Eze 34:26; Joe 2:23)7They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. (Ps 42:2; Pr 4:18; Isa 40:31; Joh 1:16; 2Co 3:18)8O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! (Ps 59:5)9Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! (Ps 3:3; Ps 80:14)10For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. (1Ch 26:19; Ps 84:2)11For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Ps 15:2; Ps 27:1; Ps 34:9; Ps 84:9; Ps 85:12; Pr 2:7; Isa 60:19; Mal 4:2; Mt 6:33; Mt 7:11; Re 21:23)12O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! (Ps 2:12)