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.