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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 84

Psalm 84 is read especially through the theme of praise, within Book III (Psalms 73–89). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

PraiseKingshipLament
Old Testament

Psalm 84

1For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. How lovely are your dwellings, LORD of Armies!

2My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of the LORD. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

3Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, near your altars, LORD of Armies, my King, and my God.

4Blessed are those who dwell in your house. They are always praising you. Selah.

5Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage.

6Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings.

7They go from strength to strength. Every one of them appears before God in Zion.

8LORD, God of Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob. Selah.

9Behold, God our shield, look at the face of your anointed.

10For 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.

11For the LORD God is a sun and a shield. The LORD will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.

12LORD of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 84

Psalm 84 is read especially through the theme of praise, within Book III (Psalms 73–89). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book III (Psalms 73–89). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Praise, Kingship, Lament. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 84

Psalm 84 contains 12 verses and about 225 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. How lovely are your dwellings, LORD of Armies!” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 12 closes: “LORD of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include armies, blessed, strength, courts, dwell, house. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 84

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 84:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes praise, with related themes of Praise, Kingship, Lament. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

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