Longing for the Temple Worship.
To the Chief Musician; set to a
Philistine lute. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
1 How lovely are Your dwelling places,
O Lordof hosts!
2 My soul (my life, my inner self) longs for and greatly desires the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3 The bird has found a house,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young–
Even Your altars, O Lordof hosts,
My King and my God.
4 Blessedandgreatly favored are those who dwell in Your houseandYour presence;
They will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah.
5 Blessedandgreatly favored is the man whose strength is in You,
Inwhose heart are the highwaysto Zion.
6 Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs;
The early rain also covers it with blessings.
7 They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power];
Each of themappears before God in Zion.
8 O LordGod of hosts, hear my prayer;
Listen, O God of Jacob! Selah.
9 See our shield, O God,
And look at the face of Your anointed [the king as Your representative].
10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else];
I would rather stand [as a doorkeeper] at the threshold of the house of my God
Than to live [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LordGod is a sun and shield;
The Lordbestows graceandfavor and honor;
No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lordof hosts,
How blessedandgreatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, relying on You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectation].