Psalm 84
Words: John Milton.
One of nine Psalms done into metre by John Milton during April, 1648.
Words in brackets are words that are different from the text of the Psalm as it was in Milton's Bible. We have left the spelling as we found it, a mixture of modern and ancient.
1 How lovely are thy dwellings fair!
O Lord of Hoasts, how dear
The [pleasant] Tabernacles are!
[Where thou do'st dwell so near.]
2 My Soul doth long and almost die
Thy Courts O Lord to see,
My heart and flesh aloud do crie,
O living God, for thee.
3 There ev'n the Sparrow [freed from wrong]
Hath found a house of [rest,]
The Swallow there, to lay her young
Hath built her [brooding] nest,
Ev'n [by] thy Altars Lord of Hoasts
[They find their safe abode,]
[And home they fly from round the Coasts]
[Toward thee,] My King, my God.
4 Happy, who in thy house reside
Where thee they ever praise,
5 Happy, whose strength in thee doth bide,
And in their hearts thy waies.
6 They pass through Baca's [thirstie] Vale,
[That dry and barren ground]
As through a fruitfull watry Dale
Where Springs and Showrs abound.
7 They journey on from strength to strength
[With joy and gladsom cheer]
[Till] all before [our] God [at length]
In Sion do appear.
8 Lord God of Hoasts hear [now] my praier
O Jacobs God give ear,
9 Thou God our shield look on the face
Of thy anointed [dear.]
10 For one day in thy Courts [to be]
Is better, [and more blest]
Then [in the joyes of Vanity,]
A thousand daies [at best.]
I in the temple of my God
Had rather keep a dore,
Then dwell in Tents, [and rich abode]
With Sin [for evermore.]
11 For God the Lord both Sun and Shield
Gives grace and glory [bright,]
No good from them shall be with-held
Whose waies are just and right.
12 Lord [God] of Hoasts [that raign'st on high,]
That man is [truly] blest
Who [only] on thee doth relie.
And in thee only rest.
