Verse 1
"A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. His foundation is in the holy mountains"
The sons of Korah — a family of Levite singers who served in the Temple; a Psalm or Song — a hymn meant to be sung; his foundation — the city the LORD himself founded; the holy mountains — the hills on which Jerusalem stands.
In one line: the city is founded on the holy mountains.
Verse 2
"The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob"
Loves — a lasting love; the gates of Zion — the entrances of Jerusalem; the dwellings of Jacob — every other town and home of the people of Israel.
In one line: the LORD loves the gates of Zion above every other place.
Verse 3
"Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah"
Glorious things — words of honour and praise; city of God — Jerusalem, the city that bears his name; Selah — a word that closes a passage in the Psalms.
In one line: honour is spoken of you, city of God.
Verse 4
"I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there"
Rahab — a poetic name for Egypt, from a word for pride; Babylon — the great kingdom of the east; those who know me — those who acknowledge the LORD; Philistia — the coastal land of the Philistines; Tyre — the harbour city to the north; Ethiopia — the Hebrew says Cush, a far land south of Egypt; this man was born there — of each it is said that a notable man was born there.
In one line: great and distant nations are named, each with its own.
Verse 5
"And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her"
this and that man — the Hebrew says 'a man and a man', meaning many; the Highest himself shall establish her — the Most High is the one who makes her stand firm.
In one line: many are counted as born in Zion, and the Most High upholds her.
Verse 6
"The LORD shall count, when he writes up the people, that this man was born there. Selah"
when he writes up the people — as in a register where every nation and every person is entered by name; this man was born there — beside each name he notes where that one belongs.
In one line: the LORD writes the register and knows where each one belongs.
Verse 7
"As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in you"
The players on instruments — the Hebrew word can also mean dancers in a circle dance; all my springs are in you — every source of my life, my joy and my strength is found in you, Zion.
In one line: they sing and rejoice: all my springs are in you.
From the holy mountains to the springs of joy — a song of love for Zion that ends in singing.