> [[psalm-83|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-85|Next →]] --- # Psalm 84 ## Prayer of a Pilgrim to Jerusalem 1 For the leader; “upon the *gittith*.” A psalm of the Korahites. ^psalm-84-1 ### I 2 How lovely your dwelling, ^psalm-84-2 O LORD of hosts! 3 My soul yearns and pines ^psalm-84-3 for the courts of the LORD. My heart and flesh cry out for the living God. 4 As the sparrow finds a home ^psalm-84-4 and the swallow a nest to settle her young, My home is by your altars, LORD of hosts, my king and my God! 5 Blessed are those who dwell in your house! ^psalm-84-5 They never cease to praise you. *Selah* ### II 6 Blessed the man who finds refuge in you, ^psalm-84-6 in their hearts are pilgrim roads. 7 As they pass through the Baca valley, ^psalm-84-7 they find spring water to drink. The early rain covers it with blessings. 8 They will go from strength to strength ^psalm-84-8 and see the God of gods on Zion. ### III 9 LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; ^psalm-84-9 listen, God of Jacob. *Selah* 10 O God, watch over our shield; ^psalm-84-10 look upon the face of your anointed. ### IV 11 Better one day in your courts ^psalm-84-11 than a thousand elsewhere. Better the threshold of the house of my God than a home in the tents of the wicked. 12 For a sun and shield is the LORD God, ^psalm-84-12 bestowing all grace and glory. The LORD withholds no good thing from those who walk without reproach. 13 O LORD of hosts, ^psalm-84-13 blessed the man who trusts in you! \* (Psalm 84) Israelites celebrated three pilgrimage feasts in Jerusalem annually. The Psalm expresses the sentiments of the pilgrims eager to enjoy the divine presence. \* (84:4) The desire of a restless bird for a secure home is an image of the desire of a pilgrim for the secure house of God, cf. [Ps 42:2] – [3], where the image for the desire of the pilgrim is the thirst of the deer for water. \* (84:7) Baca valley: Hebrew obscure; probably a valley on the way to Jerusalem. \* (84:8) Strength to strength: pass through outer and inner wall. \* (84:10) Our shield…your anointed: the king had a role in the liturgical celebration. For the king as shield, cf. [Ps 89:19]. a. (84:2) [Ps 43:3] – [4]; [122:1]. b. (84:3) [Ps 42:2] – [3]; [63:2] – [3]; [143:6]; [Is 26:9]. c. (84:4) ([[psalm-05|Ps 5]]:3]. d. (84:10) [Ps 89:19]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[psalm-83|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-85|Next →]]