Longing for God's House
841 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. 3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. 4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. 6 Who passing through the valley of Baca [1] make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. 9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. 10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
Longing for God's House
841 How dear are your tents, O Lord of armies! 2 The passion of my soul's desire is for the house of the Lord; my heart and my flesh are crying out for the living God. 3 The little birds have places for themselves, where they may put their young, even your altars, O Lord of armies, my King and my God. 4 Happy are they whose resting-place is in your house: they will still be praising you. (Selah.) 5 Happy is the man whose strength is in you; in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 Going through the valley of balsam-trees, they make it a place of springs; it is clothed with blessings by the early rain. 7 They go from strength to strength; every one of them comes before God in Zion.
8 O Lord God of armies, let my prayer come to you: give ear, O God of Jacob. (Selah.) 9 O God, let your eyes be on him who is our safe cover, and let your heart be turned to your king. 10 For a day in your house is better than a thousand. It is better to be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to be living in the tents of sin. 11 The Lord God is our sun and our strength: the Lord will give grace and glory: he will not keep back any good thing from those whose ways are upright. 12 O Lord of armies, happy is the man whose hope is in you.
Longing for God's House
841 How lovely are your dwellings,
Yahweh of Armies! 2 My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh.
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Yes, the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young,
near your altars, Yahweh of Armies, my King, and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house.
They are always praising you. Selah. 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you;
who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage. 6 Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs.
Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength.
Everyone of them appears before God in Zion.
8 Yahweh, God of Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, God of Jacob. Selah. 9 Behold, God our shield,
look at the face of your anointed. 10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield.
Yahweh will give grace and glory.
He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly. 12 Yahweh of Armies,
blessed is the man who trusts in you.