Mazmur 84:4-5

84:4 How blessed ¹  are those who live in your temple

and praise you continually! (Selah)

84:5 How blessed are those who ²  find their strength in you,

and long to travel the roads that lead to your temple! ³ 

[84:4]  ¹ tn The Hebrew noun is an abstract plural. The word often refers metonymically to the happiness that God-given security and prosperity produce (see v. 12 and Pss 1:1; 2:12; 34:9; 41:1; 65:4; 89:15; 106:3; 112:1; 127:5; 128:1; 144:15).

[84:5]  ² tn Heb “[Oh] the happiness [of] the man.” Hebrew literature often assumes and reflects the male-oriented perspective of ancient Israelite society. The principle stated here was certainly applicable to all people, regardless of their gender or age. To facilitate modern application, we translate the gender and age specific “man” with the plural “those.” The individual referred to in v. 5a is representative of followers of God, as the use of plural forms in vv. 5b-7 indicates.

[84:5]  ³ tn Heb “roads [are] in their heart[s].” The roads are here those that lead to Zion (see v. 7).