Sons of Korah: A Song of Longing
For the director of music; according to the Gittith. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
A pilgrim envies the sparrow that gets to nest at our Father's altar all year long. Passing through a dry valley the travelers leave springs behind them, going from strength to strength. One day in those courts beats a thousand anywhere else.
84 1How lovely is your dwelling place, O Father of heaven's armies! 2My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of our Father; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to our living Father. 3Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she can raise her young—at your altars, O Father of heaven's armies, my King and my Father. 4Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
5Blessed is the one whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with blessings. a a v6 Baca means "weeping." On the road to our Father, even the valley of tears becomes a place of springs. 7They go from strength to strength; each one appears before our Father in Zion. 8O Father of heaven's armies, hear my prayer; listen, O God of Jacob.
9See our shield, O our Father, and look on your anointed. b b v9 "Your anointed" refers to Israel's king, God's chosen ruler set apart for his people. 10For a day in your courts is better than 1,000 elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my Father than live in the tents of wickedness. 11For our Father is a sun and shield; our Father bestows grace and glory; he withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly. 12O Father of heaven's armies, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
