O Lord of hosts, how lovely the
place where Thou dost dwell!
Thy tabernacles holy in
pleasantness excel.
My soul is longing, fainting,
Jehovah’s courts to see;
My heart and flesh are crying, O
living God for Thee.
Behold the
sparrow findeth a house in which to
rest,
The swallow has discovered where
she may build her nest;
And where, securely sheltered, her
young she forth may bring;
So Lord of hosts, Thine altars I
seek, my God, my King.
Blest who Thy house inhabit,
they ever give Thee praise.
Blest all whom Thou dost
strengthen, who love the sacred
ways.
Who pass through Baca’s valley, and
make in it a well;
There rains in shower abundant the
pools with water fill.
So they from strength unwearied
go forward unto strength,
Till they appear in Zion, before
the Lord at length.
O hear, Lord God of Jacob, to me an
answer yield;
The face of Thine anointed, behold,
O God, our Shield.
One day excels a thousand, if
spent Thy courts within;
I’ll chose Thy threshold rather
than dwell in tents of sin.
Our Sun and Shield Jehovah, will
grace and glory give;
No good will He deny them that
uprightly do live.
