BibleInTonguesWEB
Psalms 84
A pilgrim's song of longing for the temple. The poet envies the sparrow and swallow that nest beside the altars, and counts the doorkeeper's lowly post better than comfort 'in the tents of wickedness.' Notice the movement of travel: pilgrims cross the Valley of Weeping and turn it into springs, going 'from strength to strength' until each one appears before God in Zion.
- 1
How lovely are your dwellings, LORD of Armies!
- 2
My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of the LORD. 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, LORD 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. Every one of them appears before God in Zion.
- 8
LORD, 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 the LORD God is a sun and a shield. The LORD will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.
- 12
LORD of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
The arithmetic of one day
Verse 10 sets a deliberate ratio — a single day in God's courts outweighs a thousand elsewhere. Paired with the image of birds finding a permanent home near the altars, the psalm contrasts the longing of the traveler with the settled nestling, framing nearness to God as both a journey undertaken and a dwelling already granted to the sparrow.
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