HelgaHistory

 Psalm 84

From Scottish Metrical Psalms 1650

Meter: 8,6,8,6

1    How lovely is thy dwelling-place,

       O Lord of hosts, to me!

     The tabernacles of thy grace

       how pleasant, Lord, they be!

2    My thirsty soul longs veh'mently,

       yea faints, thy courts to see:

     My very heart and flesh cry out,

       O living God, for thee.

3    Behold, the sparrow findeth out

       an house wherein to rest;

     The swallow also for herself

       hath purchased a nest;

     Ev'n thine own altars,* where she safe

       her young ones forth may bring,

     O thou almighty Lord of hosts,

       who art my God and King.

4    Bless'd are they in thy house that dwell,

       they ever give thee praise.

5    Bless'd is the man whose strength thou art,

       in whose heart are thy ways:

6    Who passing thorough Baca's vale,

       therein do dig up wells;

     Also the rain that falleth down

       the pools with water fills.

7    So they from strength unwearied go

       still forward unto strength,

     Until in Sion they appear

       before the Lord at length.

8    Lord God of hosts, my prayer hear;

       O Jacob's God, give ear.

9    See God our shield, look on the face

       of thine anointed dear.

10   For in thy courts one day excels

       a thousand; rather in

     My God's house will I keep a door,

       than dwell in tents of sin.

11   For God the Lord's a sun and shield:

       he'll grace and glory give;

     And will withhold no good from them

       that uprightly do live.

12   O thou that art the Lord of hosts,

       that man is truly blest,

     Who by assured confidence

       on thee alone doth rest.