לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל הַגִּתִּית לִבְנֵי קֹרַח מִזְמוֹר

For the chief musician, on the gitit, a psalm by the sons of Korah.

מַה יְּדִידוֹת מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֶיךָ ה' צְבָאוֹת

How pleasing are Your dwelling places, Lord of hosts.

נִכְסְפָה וְגַם כָּלְתָה נַפְשִׁי לְחַצְרוֹת ה' לִבִּי וּבְשָׂרִי יְרַנְּנוּ אֶל אֵל חָי

My soul longs, indeed it yearns, for the courtyards of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing with joy to the living Almighty.

גַּם צִפּוֹר מָצְאָה בַיִת וּדְרוֹר קֵן לָהּ אֲשֶׁר שָׁתָה אֶפְרֹחֶיהָ אֶת מִזְבְּחוֹתֶיךָ ה' צְבָאוֹת מַלְכִּי וֵאלֹהָי

Even the bird that travels far and wide has found a home, and the sparrow too has a nest for herself where she can put her young; as for me, I wish my place of rest to be at Your altars, Lord of hosts, my King and my God.

אַשְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵי בֵיתֶךָ עוֹד יְהַלְלוּךָ סֶּלָה

Happy are those who dwell in Your House; they will continually praise You, Selah.

אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם עוֹז לוֹ בָךְ מְסִלּוֹת בִּלְבָבָם

Happy are those whose strength is in You and whose hearts follow Your path.

עֹבְרֵי בְּעֵמֶק הַבָּכָא מַעְיָן יְשִׁיתוּהוּ גַּם-בְּרָכוֹת יַעְטֶה מוֹרֶה

When they pass through a valley of tears, they, through their prayers and devotion to God, can make it into a flowing spring. Alternatively, the phrase emek habakha, translated here as “valley of tears,” may also refer to a valley near Jerusalem where trees called bakha grew. Indeed, blessings cover even the guide who leads the way into these places.

יֵלְכוּ מֵחַיִל אֶל-חָיִל יֵרָאֶה אֶל אֱלֹהִים בְּצִיּוֹן

They go from one success to another; they will be seen before God in Zion, which is where their chosen path leads.

ה' אֱלֹהִים צְבָאוֹת שִׁמְעָה תְפִלָּתִי הַאֲזִינָה אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶלָה

Lord, God of hosts, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob, Selah.

מָגִנֵּנוּ רְאֵה אֱלֹהִים וְהַבֵּט פְּנֵי מְשִׁיחֶךָ

See and assist our shield, the king who defends us, God; look with favor upon the face of Your anointed one.

כִּי טוֹב-יוֹם בַּחֲצֵרֶיךָ מֵאלֶף בָּחַרְתִּי הִסְתּוֹפֵף בְּבֵית אֱלֹהַי מדּוּר בְּאָהֳלֵי רֶשַׁע

For one day in Your courtyard is better than a thousand ordinary days; I would rather stand at the threshold of the House of my God than dwell in tents of wickedness.

כִּי שֶׁמֶשׁ ומָגֵן ה' אֱלֹהִים חֵן וְכָבוֹד יִתֵּן ה' לֹא יִמְנַע טוֹב לַהֹלְכִים בְּתָמִים

For the Lord God is a sun, a source of light and strength, and a shield and protection; the Lord gives grace and honor to those who serve Him. He withholds no good from those who walk uprightly.

ה' צְבָאוֹת אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּטֵחַ בָּךְ

Lord of hosts, happy is the man who trusts in You.