Christian prayer

Psalm 24

Psalm 24 from the Bible, with its original text and meaning.

10 verses
Under a minute to recite
From the Bible

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1
לְדָוִ֗ד מִ֫זְמ֥וֹר לַֽ֭יהוָה הָאָ֣רֶץ וּמְלוֹאָ֑הּ תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל וְיֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃
A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2
כִּי־ה֭וּא עַל־יַמִּ֣ים יְסָדָ֑הּ וְעַל־נְ֝הָר֗וֹת יְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3
מִֽי־יַעֲלֶ֥ה בְהַר־יְהוָ֑ה וּמִי־יָ֝קוּם בִּמְק֥וֹם קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4
נְקִ֥י כַפַּ֗יִם וּֽבַר־לֵ֫בָ֥ב אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ לֹא־נָשָׂ֣א לַשָּׁ֣וְא נַפְשִׁ֑י וְלֹ֖א נִשְׁבַּ֣ע לְמִרְמָֽה׃
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5
יִשָּׂ֣א בְ֭רָכָה מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה וּ֝צְדָקָ֗ה מֵאֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעֽוֹ׃
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6
זֶ֭ה דּ֣וֹר דרשו מְבַקְשֵׁ֨י פָנֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7
שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים ׀ רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם וְֽ֭הִנָּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם וְ֝יָב֗וֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8
מִ֥י זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד יְ֭הוָה עִזּ֣וּז וְגִבּ֑וֹר יְ֝הוָ֗ה גִּבּ֥וֹר מִלְחָמָֽה׃
Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9
שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים ׀ רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם וּ֭שְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם וְ֝יָבֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10
מִ֤י ה֣וּא זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֑וֹת ה֤וּא מֶ֖לֶךְ הַכָּב֣וֹד סֶֽלָה׃
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

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When it is prayed

Many Christians recite Psalm 24 in personal prayer or public worship to praise God and reflect on approaching him with integrity. In some Christian traditions, it is also read during Advent and at Ascension, with its welcome to the King of glory understood in relation to Christ.

Personal prayer
Public worship
Advent
Ascension

Where it comes from

Psalm 24 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament and was originally composed in Hebrew. Its biblical heading associates it with David. It celebrates God's ownership of the earth, asks who may stand in his holy place, and calls for the gates to welcome the King of glory.

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Questions about Psalm 24

How many verses are in Psalm 24?

Psalm 24 has 10 verses.

What does Psalm 24 mean?

It proclaims that the earth belongs to God and connects worship with clean hands and a pure heart. Its closing passage welcomes the Lord as the King of glory.

Who wrote Psalm 24?

Its biblical heading associates it with David, and it is traditionally attributed to him.

How long does Psalm 24 take to recite?

It can be recited in under a minute, though a slower, reflective reading may take longer.