Psalms 84

84 ¹ How lovely is your dwelling place, O Father of heaven's armies! ² My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of our Father; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to our living Father. ³ Even 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. ⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah

⁵ Blessed is the one whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. ⁶ As 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. ⁷ They go from strength to strength; each one appears before our Father in Zion. ⁸ O Father of heaven's armies, hear my prayer; listen, O our Father of Jacob. Selah

⁹ See 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. ¹⁰ For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my Father than live in the tents of wickedness. ¹¹ For our Father is a sun and shield; our Father bestows grace and glory; he withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly. ¹² O Father of heaven's armies, blessed is the one who trusts in you!