A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

1 On the holy mountain
stands the city founded by the Lord.
2 He loves the city of Jerusalem
more than any other city in Israel.^a
3 O city of God,
what glorious things are said of you!

Interlude

4 I will count Egypt^b and Babylon among those who know me—
also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia.^c
They have all become citizens of Jerusalem!
5 Regarding Jerusalem^d it will be said,
“Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.”
And the Most High will personally bless this city.
6 When the Lord registers the nations, he will say,
“They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.”

Interlude

7 The people will play flutes^e and sing,
“The source of my life springs from Jerusalem!”

a. 87:2 Hebrew He loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. See note on 44:4.
b. 87:4a Hebrew Rahab, the name of a mythical sea monster that represents chaos in ancient literature. The name is used here as a poetic name for Egypt.
c. 87:4b Hebrew Cush.
d. 87:5 Hebrew Zion.
e. 87:7 Or will dance.