(A song for pilgrims on the road up to Zion.)
Yahweh, remember
How rough David had it.
He swore an oath to Yahweh,
A vow to Jacob’s Great God:
I won’t go home.
I won’t go to bed.
I won’t nap.
I won’t rest even a moment.
Not till I find a resting place for Yahweh,
A home for Jacob’s Great God.
I remember where I was when the news came:
We were in Ephrathah,
Out in the fields
Near the woods.
We said to each other,
“Let’s go!
Let’s go to God’s house.
Let’s worship right there
At the very footstool of his throne.”
Come, Yahweh.
Here’s your new home.
A place to keep your covenant ark.
Dress your priests in justice clothes.
Set your people singing for joy.
Because of David,
Your servant-partner,
Don’t give up on your anointed king,
Your Messiah.
Yahweh swore an oath to David,
Unbreakable,
Irrevocable:
I’ll keep your grandkids
On your throne.
They just need to maintain the covenant,
Sticking to the way of life I teach.
If they do that,
Your throne will never be vacant.
This is what Yahweh did to fortify the covenant:
He chose Zion,
Loves his house there.
“This is my forever home,
My throne room.
I love it!
I’ll provide for your every need.
The poor will have plenty to eat.
I’ll dress your priests in justice clothes,
Set your people singing for joy.
This is the place
Where David’s reputation and power will grow,
Where a light will shine
From my anointed king,
From my Messiah.
I’ll dress up his enemies in shame clothes,
But he will wear
A resplendent crown.”