Psalms 87 (ASV)

Chapter Text

87:1 His foundation is in the holy mountains.

87:2 Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion More than all the dwellings of Jacob.

87:3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah

87:4 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.

87:5 Yea, of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one was born in her; And the Most High himself will establish her.

87:6 Jehovah will count, when he writeth up the peoples, This one was born there. Selah

87:7 They that sing as well as they that dance [shall say], All my fountains are in thee. Psalm 88 A Song, a Psalm of the sons of Korah; for the Chief Musician; set to Mahalath Leannoth. Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "foundation", "holy", "mountains", "jehovah", "loveth", "gates", "zion", and "than". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "foundation" and "holy", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local ASV text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "foundation" and "holy" carries the first interpretive weight. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "foundation" and "holy" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.