Psalm 87 - Glorious Things Spoken of the City of God

A brief psalm declaring Zion as the birthplace of nations under God.

Psalms 87: Glorious Things of the City of God

At just seven verses, Psalm 87 is one of the shortest entries in the Psalms overview, yet it makes a bold claim: foreign nations like Rahab, Babylon, and Ethiopia are numbered among those born in Zion. It follows the prayer for mercy in Psalms 86 with a vision of a city open to outsiders.


A Psalme or song committed to the sonnes of Korah. God layde his foundations among the holy mountaines.

The Lord loueth the gates of Zion aboue all the habitations of Iaakob.

Glorious things are spoken of thee, O citie of God. Selah.

I will make mention of Rahab and Babel among them that knowe me: beholde Palestina and Tyrus with Ethiopia, There is he borne.

And of Zion it shall be sayde, Many are borne in her: and he, euen the most High shall stablish her.

The Lord shall count, when hee writeth the people, He was borne there. Selah.

Aswell the singers as the players on instruments shall prayse thee: all my springs are in thee.

The closing line, 'all my springs are in thee,' recalls the imagery of God as the source of life found in <a href="/bible/geneva1599/psalms/chapter-36/9">Psalms 36:9</a>. Its picture of singers and instrument players celebrating in Zion sets up the far darker tone of <a href="/bible/geneva1599/psalms/chapter-88">Psalms 88</a> that follows.