Psalm LXXXIV

How lovely, how divinely sweet,
O Lord, thy sacred courts appear!
Fain would my longing passions meet
The glories of thy presence there,

With strong desire my spirit faints,
I languish for thy blest abode;
This throbbing heart, oh, how it pants!
And all my powers cry out for God.

The sparrows near thy altar live,
And swallows there a nest obtain;
My God, my king, and wilt thou give
To birds, what I desire in vain?

Oh, blest the men, blest their employ,
Whom thy indulgent favours raise
To dwell in these abodes of joy,
And sing thy never-ceasing praise.

Happy the men, whom strength divine
With ardent love and zeal inspires!
Whose steps to thy blest way incline,
With willing hearts and warm desires.

Through Baca's thirsty vale they go;
But God commands, and springs arise,
And showers descend with copious flow,
To yield the pilgrim full supplies.

Still they pursue the painful road,
Increasing strength surmounts their fear;
Till all at length before their God,
In Sion's glorious courts appear.

"Lord of hosts, attend my prayer,
Our father's God, thy ear incline;
Shield of our lives, reveal thy care,
And on thy own anointed shine.

One day within thy sacred gate,
Affords more real joy to me,
Than thousands in the tents of State;
The meanest place is bliss with thee.

God is a sun; our brightest day
From his reviving presence flows;
God is a shield, through all the way,
To guard us from surrounding foes.

He pours his kindest blessings down,
Profusely down on souls sincere:
And grace shall guide, and glory crown
The happy favorites of his care.

O Lord of hosts, thou God of grace,
How blest, divinely blest, is he,
Who trusts thy love and seeks thy face,
And fixes all his hopes on thee!