1 H ow beautiful are the places where You live, O Lord of all!

How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts!

2 M y soul wants and even becomes weak from wanting to be in the house of the Lord. My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

3 E ven the bird has found a home. The swallow has found a nest for herself where she may lay her young at Your altars, O Lord of all, my King and my God.

Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young— Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God.

4 H ow happy are those who live in Your house! They are always giving thanks to You.

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah

5 H ow happy is the man whose strength is in You and in whose heart are the roads to Zion!

Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.

6 A s they pass through the dry valley of Baca, they make it a place of good water. The early rain fills the pools with good also.

As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools.

7 T hey go from strength to strength. Every one of them stands before God in Zion.

They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion.

8 O Lord God of all, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

9 L ook upon our safe-covering, O God. And look upon the face of Your chosen one.

O God, behold our shield, And look upon the face of Your anointed.

10 F or a day in Your house is better than a thousand outside. I would rather be the one who opens the door of the house of my God, than to live in the tents of the sinful.

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 F or the Lord God is a sun and a safe-covering. The Lord gives favor and honor. He holds back nothing good from those who walk in the way that is right.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.

12 O Lord of all, how happy is the man who trusts in You!

O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!