- How pleasant is thy dwelling place,
- O Lord of hosts to me?
- The Tabernacles of thy grace,
- how pleasant Lord they be?
-
- 2 My soul doth long full sore to go
- into thy Courts abroad:
- My heart doth lust, my flesh also
- in thee the living Lord.
-
- 3 The sparrows find a room to rest,
- and save themselves from wrong:
- And eke the swallow hath a nest
- wherein to keep her young.
-
- 4 These birds full nigh thine Altar may
- have place to sit and sing:
- O Lord of hosts, thou art I say,
- my God and eke my king.
-
- 5 O they be blessed that may dwell
- within thy house always:
- For they all times thy facts do tell,
- and ever give thee praise.
-
- 6 Yea, happy sure likewise are they,
- whose stay and strength thou art:
- Which to thy house do mind the way,
- and seek it in their heart.
-
- 7 As they go through the vale of tears
- they dig up fountains still:
- That as a spring it all appears,
- and thou their pits dost fill.
-
- 8 From strength to strength they walk full fast,
- no faintness there shall be:
- And so the God of Gods at last
- in Zion they do see.
-
- 9 O Lord of hosts to me give heed,
- and hear when I do pray:
- And let it through thine ears proceed,
- O Jacob’s God I say.
-
- 10 O Lord our shield of thy good grace
- regard and so draw near:
- Regard I say, behold the face
- of thine anointed dear.
-
- 11 For why? within thy Courts one day
- is better to abide:
- Then other where to keep or stay
- a thousand days beside.
-
- 12 Much rather would I keep a door
- within the house of God,
- Then in the tents of wickedness
- to settle mine abode.
-
- 13 For God the Lord light and defense,
- will grace and worship give,
- And now good thing will he with-hold
- from them that purely live.
-
- 14 O Lord, of hosts that man is blest,
- and happy sure is he:
- That is persuaded in his breast,
- to trust all times in thee.
