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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PSALM 84 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE

First Line: HOW LOVELY ARE THY DWELLINGS FAIR
Last Line: AND IN THEE ONLY REST.
1 How lovely are thy dwellings fair!
O Lord of Hosts, how dear
The @3pleasant@1 tabernacles are!
@3Where thou dost dwell so near@1.
2 My soul doth long and almost die
Thy courts O Lord to see;
My heart and flesh aloud do cry,
O living God, for thee.
3 There ev'n the sparrow @3freed from wrong@1
Hath found a house of @3rest@1;
The swallow there, to lay her young
Hath built her @3brooding@1 nest;
Ev'n @3by@1 thy altars Lord of Hosts
@3They find their safe abode,
And home they fly from round the coasts
Toward thee@1, 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 ways.
6 They pass through Baca's @3thirsty@1 vale,
@3That dry and barren ground@1,
As through a fruitful wat'ry dale
Where springs and show'rs abound.
7 They journey on from strength to strength
@3With joy and gladsome cheer
Till@1 all before @3our@1 God @3at length@1
In Sion do appear.
8 Lord God of Hosts hear @3now@1 my prayer,
O Jacob's God give ear;
9 Thou God our shield look on the face
Of thy anointed @3dear@1.
10 For one day in thy courts @3to be@1
Is better, @3and more blest@1
Than @3in the joys of vanity@1,
A thousand days @3at best@1.
I in the temple of my God
Had rather keep a door,
Than dwell in tents, @3and rich abode@1
With sin @3for evermore@1.
11 For God the Lord both sun and shield
Gives grace and glory @3bright@1;
No good from them shall be withheld
Whose ways are just and right.
12 Lord @3God@1 of Hosts @3that reign'st on high@1,
That man is @3truly@1 blest,
Who @3only@1 on thee doth rely,
And in thee only rest.



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