orchidee

Delightful Dwellings

Fits tune: Engelberg

(\'All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine\')

Psalm 84

********

1. O LORD of hosts, how amiable be

Your dwellings, tabernacles, which we see

My soul longs, yes, and e\'en faints for your courts

For us you have us sought

 

2. My heart and flesh they do now true cry out

For you the living God without a doubt

The sparrow too there she a house has found

Praises to you redound

 

3. The swallow also has found her a nest

Where she may lay her young, e\'en place the best

Even your altars, yours, O LORD of hosts

In you creation boasts

 

4. Blesséd are they that in your house do dwell

They will be praising you, your goodness tell

Blesséd are they whose strength is all in you

You will help them, renew

 

5. And blessed too are they who have their hearts set

To know your ways, they shall not fear or fret

Passing through Baca\'s* valley, sorrows dell

They turn it to a well

 

6. The rain too fills the pools, waters the land

Provided sure from God and His strong hand

Such who trust in Him go from strength to strength

Prospering through life\'s length

 

7. Each one of them before God does appear

In Zion, His city, they love Him dear

O LORD of hosts, my prayer hear, you our shield

To you our praise we yield

 

8. Look upon us, see your anointed ones

Your children, people, us your daughters, sons

For one day in your courts it better is

Than any other bliss

 

9. Yes, better than thousand days spent elsewhere

For we in sweet communion with you share

I rather doorkeeper in your house be

Than dwell with wicked, see

 

10. For you LORD God to us are sun and shield

You will give us grace, glory, free, unstealed**

No good thing to the upright you withhold

We be blessed in your fold

*************

* Baca - a valley of sorrow or weeping

(unsure of origin of the word). 

** unstealed is not actually a word,

but I use poetic licence.