1 How delightful are your dwellings,
O Almighty LORD, to me!
2 For your courts my soul is yearning;
in your house I long to be.
Heart and flesh cry out aloud
for the true and living God.
3 Even sparrows find their dwelling,
and the swallow builds a nest
Near your altar, LORD Almighty,
where her offspring may have rest.
4 Blessed whose home is your abode,
they are ever praising God.
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
those who have a pilgrim’s mind.
6 Pools from autumn rains refresh them;
springs in Baca’s vale they find.
7 Strength increasing, Zionward
they go on their way to God.
8 Hear my pray’r, LORD God Almighty,
and receive the plea I make.
Listen to me, God of Jacob;
hear me for your mercy’s sake.
9 Look upon our shield and bring
favour to your chosen king.
10 One day in your courts is better
than a thousand days elsewhere.
Let me stay in my God’s temple—
let me be a doorman there—
Rather than find happiness
in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD gives grace and honour;
God will be a shield and sun.
He will not withhold his blessing
from the just and blameless one.
12 LORD Almighty, great and true,
blessed the one who trusts in you.
You can hear a Free Church of Scotland sing this to the tune Neander here or St Leonard here.