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

How lovely are your dwellings, Yahweh of Armies!

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, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. 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.

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.

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 are always 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 are those whose strength is in you; who have set their hearts on a 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.

Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings.

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

They go from strength to strength. Everyone of them appears before God in Zion.

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

Yahweh, God of Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob. Selah.

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

Behold, God our shield, look at 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 to 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 Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.

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

Yahweh of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.