Corpus Psalterium · Vol. IV
Psalm LXXXIV (84)
Cantillated — Processional Ascent
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 84 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־הַגִּתִּ֑ית לִבְנֵי־קֹ֥רַח מִזְמֽוֹר׃
How lovely are your dwellings, Yahweh of Armies!
מַה־יְּדִיד֥וֹת מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֶ֗יךָ יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃
My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
נִכְסְפָ֬ה וְגַם־כָּלְתָ֨ה ׀ נַפְשִׁי֮ לְחַצְר֪וֹת יְה֫וָ֥ה לִבִּ֥י וּבְשָׂרִ֑י יְ֝רַנְּנ֗וּ אֶ֣ל אֵֽל־חָֽי׃
Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, near your altars, Yahweh of Armies, my King, and my God.
גַּם־צִפּ֨וֹר ׀ מָ֪צְאָה בַ֡יִת וּדְר֤וֹר ׀ קֵ֥ן לָהּ֮ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֪תָה אֶפְרֹ֫חֶ֥יהָ אֶֽת־מִ֭זְבְּחוֹתֶיךָ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת מַ֝לְכִּ֗י וֵאלֹהָֽי׃
Blessed are those who dwell in your house. They are always praising you. Selah.
אַ֭שְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י בֵיתֶ֑ךָ ע֝֗וֹד יְֽהַלְל֥וּךָ סֶּֽלָה׃
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage.
אַשְׁרֵ֣י אָ֭דָם עֽוֹז־ל֥וֹ בָ֑ךְ מְ֝סִלּ֗וֹת בִּלְבָבָֽם׃
Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings.
עֹבְרֵ֤י ׀ בְּעֵ֣מֶק הַ֭בָּכָא מַעְיָ֣ן יְשִׁית֑וּהוּ גַּם־בְּ֝רָכ֗וֹת יַעְטֶ֥ה מוֹרֶֽה׃
They go from strength to strength. Every one of them appears before God in Zion.
יֵ֭לְכוּ מֵחַ֣יִל אֶל־חָ֑יִל יֵרָאֶ֖ה אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֣ים בְּצִיּֽוֹן׃
Yahweh, God of Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob. Selah.
יְה֘וָ֤ה אֱלֹהִ֣ים צְ֭בָאוֹת שִׁמְעָ֣ה תְפִלָּתִ֑י הַאֲזִ֨ינָה אֱלֹהֵ֖י יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃
Behold, God our shield, look at the face of your anointed.
מָ֭גִנֵּנוּ רְאֵ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְ֝הַבֵּ֗ט פְּנֵ֣י מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃
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.
כִּ֤י טֽוֹב־י֥וֹם בַּחֲצֵרֶ֗יךָ מֵ֫אָ֥לֶף בָּחַ֗רְתִּי הִ֭סְתּוֹפֵף בְּבֵ֣ית אֱלֹהַ֑י מִ֝דּ֗וּר בְּאָהֳלֵי־רֶֽשַׁע׃
For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.
כִּ֤י שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ ׀ וּמָגֵן֮ יְהוָ֪ה אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים חֵ֣ן וְ֭כָבוֹד יִתֵּ֣ן יְהוָ֑ה לֹ֥א יִמְנַע־ט֝֗וֹב לַֽהֹלְכִ֥ים בְּתָמִֽים׃
Yahweh of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֑וֹת אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י אָ֝דָ֗ם בֹּטֵ֥חַ בָּֽךְ׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
How lovely
How lovely
Your dwelling places
O Lord of hosts
My soul longs
even faints
For the courts
of the Lord
My heart
my flesh
Sing for joy
to the living God
Even the sparrow
finds a home
The swallow
a nest
Where she lays her young
At Your altars
O Lord of hosts
My King
my God
Blessed are those
who dwell in Your house
They will praise You
still they praise
Blessed are those
whose strength is in You
Whose hearts
are set on the road
Whose hearts
are set on the road
Passing through
the valley of weeping
They make it
a spring
The early rain
covers it
They go from strength
to strength
Each appears
before God in Zion
O Lord God of hosts
hear my prayer
Give ear
O God of Jacob
Look upon
our shield
Behold the face
of Your anointed
Better one day
in Your courts
Than a thousand
elsewhere
I would rather stand
in the house of my God
Than dwell
in tents of wickedness
Better one day
better one day
In Your courts
For the Lord God
is sun and shield
Grace and glory
He gives
No good thing
will He withhold
From those who walk
uprightly
No good thing
No good thing
O Lord of hosts
Blessed is the man
who trusts in You
Blessed is the man
who trusts in You
Blessed are those
who dwell in Your house
They will praise You
forever
Better one day
in Your courts
Better one day
better one day
Blessed is the man
who trusts in You
Blessed is the man
who trusts in You
How lovely
How lovely
Your dwelling places
O Lord of hosts
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.