| Psalm 87 | |
|---|---|
| "His Foundation is in the Holy Mountains" | |
 The German inscription on the doorpost of a building in Jerusalem (1948) "The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob" from Psalm 87:2. | |
| Other name |
|
| Text | byKorahites |
| Language | Hebrew (original) |
| Psalm 87 | |
|---|---|
← Psalm 86 Psalm 87 → | |
| Book | Book of Psalms |
| Hebrew Bible part | Ketuvim |
| Order in the Hebrew part | 1 |
| Category | Sifrei Emet |
| Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 19 |
Psalm 87 is the 87thpsalm of theBook of Psalms, beginning in English in theKing James Version: "His foundation is in the holy mountains.". In the slightly different numbering system used in the GreekSeptuagint and LatinVulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm isPsalm 86. In Latin, it is known as "Fundamenta eius in montibus sanctis".[1] It was written by the sons ofKorach. It describesJerusalem as the center of the world or the "mother of nations",[2] where God placed theTorah.[3]
The psalm forms a regular part ofJewish,Catholic liturgies. Psalm 87 has been paraphrased as the hymn "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken", and set to music from Baroque to contemporary and popular.
The Psalms depict a splendid vision for Jerusalem, wherein individuals from historically adversarial groups to Israel are envisioned as being metaphorically 'born in Zion.' These groups, symbolized by Rahab representing Egypt, Babylonia, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush, stand united in an unexpected reconciliation. In the words of O. Palmer Robertson, this portrayal signifies a remarkable strategy for conquering adversaries.[4]
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The following table shows the Hebrew text[5][6] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon theJPS 1917 translation (now in thepublic domain).
| Verse | Hebrew | English translation (JPS 1917) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | לִבְנֵי־קֹ֭רַח מִזְמ֣וֹר שִׁ֑יר יְ֝סוּדָת֗וֹ בְּהַרְרֵי־קֹֽדֶשׁ׃ | A Psalm of the sons of Korah; a Song. His foundation is in the holy mountains. |
| 2 | אֹהֵ֣ב יְ֭הֹוָה שַׁעֲרֵ֣י צִיּ֑וֹן מִ֝כֹּ֗ל מִשְׁכְּנ֥וֹת יַעֲקֹֽב׃ | The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. |
| 3 | נִ֭כְבָּדוֹת מְדֻבָּ֣ר בָּ֑ךְ עִ֖יר הָאֱלֹהִ֣ים סֶֽלָה׃ | Glorious things are spoken of Thee, O city of God. Selah |
| 4 | אַזְכִּ֤יר ׀ רַ֥הַב וּבָבֶ֗ל לְֽיֹ֫דְעָ֥י הִנֵּ֤ה פְלֶ֣שֶׁת וְצֹ֣ר עִם־כּ֑וּשׁ זֶ֝֗ה יֻלַּד־שָֽׁם׃ | 'I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon as among them that know Me; behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this one was born there.' |
| 5 | וּ֥לְצִיּ֨וֹן ׀ יֵאָמַ֗ר אִ֣ישׁ וְ֭אִישׁ יֻלַּד־בָּ֑הּ וְה֖וּא יְכוֹנְנֶ֣הָ עֶלְיֽוֹן׃ | But of Zion it shall be said: 'This man and that was born in her; And the Most High Himself doth establish her.' |
| 6 | יְֽהֹוָ֗ה יִ֭סְפֹּר בִּכְת֣וֹב עַמִּ֑ים זֶ֖ה יֻלַּד־שָׁ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃ | The LORD shall count in the register of the peoples: 'This one was born there.' Selah |
| 7 | וְשָׁרִ֥ים כְּחֹלְלִ֑ים כׇּֽל־מַעְיָנַ֥י בָּֽךְ׃ | And whether they sing or dance, all my thoughts are in Thee. |
The following is the full English text of the Psalm from theKing James Bible.
The psalm is classified as one of the "Songs of Zion", looking to the future Jerusalem as the 'center of universal worship' and listing some of the surrounding nations (from which Jewish proselytes have come to the festivals) or as a 'reference to Jews who come from different countries in the dispersion'.[7]
"Rahab" in verse 4 may refer to 'the primeval monster quelled by YHWH in ancient story' (cf.Psalm 89:10), here to represent "Egypt", whereas the 'springs' (verse 7) may symbolize "divine blessing", placing Zion as 'the source of the streams of Paradise'.[8]
In theEastern Orthodox Church, Psalm 86 (Psalm 87 in the Masoretic Text) is part of the twelfthKathisma division of the Psalter, read atVespers on Wednesday evenings, as well as on Tuesdays and Thursdays duringLent, atMatins and theNinth Hour, respectively. It is also part of theGreat Hours onChristmas Eve.[9]
In theAgpeya, theCoptic Church'sbook of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office ofSext.[10]
In theChurch of England'sBook of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the seventeenth day of the month.[11]
The English hymn "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken" by John Newton is based on Psalm 87, as also the German 1984 hymn "Alle meine Quellen entspringen in dir" by Leonore Heinzl, which quotes the end of the last verse as a refrain. It was later sung with music fromHaydn'sGott erhalte Franz den Kaiser (1797).
Heinrich Schütz set the psalm in a metred version in German, "Fest ist gegründet Gottes Stadt", SWV 184, as part of theBecker Psalter, first published in 1628.Marc-Antoine Charpentier set around 1680 "Fundamenta ejus in montibus sanctis", H.187, for 3 voices and continuo. The first movement of Bach's cantataIhr Tore zu Zion, BWV 193, is based on verse 2 from the psalm.
Arthur Hutchings set the text of Psalm 87 in hisHer Foundations are on the Holy Hills, which is also the motto ofDurham University.[12]
The psalm is featured on the 1975 albumPsalms for I byPrince Far I.
