Add parallel Print Page Options

BOOK TWO

(Psalms 42–72)

Psalm 42

For the choir director; a maskil[a] by Korah’s descendants.

As a deer longs for flowing streams,
    so my soul longs for you, O Elohim.
My soul thirsts for Elohim, for El Chay.
    When may I come to see Elohim’s face?
My tears are my food day and night.
    People ask me all day long, “Where is your Elohim?”
I will remember these things as I pour out my soul:
    how I used to walk with the crowd
        and lead it in a procession to Elohim’s house.
            I sang songs of joy and thanksgiving
                while crowds of people celebrated a festival.

Why are you discouraged, my soul?
    Why are you so restless?
        Put your hope in Elohim,
            because I will still praise him.
                He is my savior and my Elohim.

My soul is discouraged.
    That is why I will remember you
        in the land of Jordan, on the peaks of Hermon, on Mount Mizar.
One deep sea calls to another at the roar of your waterspouts.
    All the whitecaps on your waves have swept over me.[b]
Yahweh commands his mercy during the day,
    and at night his song is with me—
        a prayer to the El of my life.
            I will ask Elohim, my rock,
                “Why have you forgotten me?
                Why must I walk around in mourning
                    while the enemy oppresses me?”
10 With a shattering blow to my bones,
    my enemies taunt me.
    They ask me all day long, “Where is your Elohim?”

11 Why are you discouraged, my soul?
    Why are you so restless?
        Put your hope in Elohim,
            because I will still praise him.
                He is my savior and my Elohim.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 42:1 Unknown musical term.
  2. Psalm 42:7 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

BOOK II

Psalms 42–72

Psalm 42[a][b]

For the director of music. A maskil[c] of the Sons of Korah.

As the deer(A) pants for streams of water,(B)
    so my soul pants(C) for you, my God.
My soul thirsts(D) for God, for the living God.(E)
    When can I go(F) and meet with God?
My tears(G) have been my food
    day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”(H)
These things I remember
    as I pour out my soul:(I)
how I used to go to the house of God(J)
    under the protection of the Mighty One[d]
with shouts of joy(K) and praise(L)
    among the festive throng.(M)

Why, my soul, are you downcast?(N)
    Why so disturbed(O) within me?
Put your hope in God,(P)
    for I will yet praise(Q) him,
    my Savior(R) and my God.(S)

My soul is downcast within me;
    therefore I will remember(T) you
from the land of the Jordan,(U)
    the heights of Hermon(V)—from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep(W)
    in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
    have swept over me.(X)

By day the Lord directs his love,(Y)
    at night(Z) his song(AA) is with me—
    a prayer to the God of my life.(AB)

I say to God my Rock,(AC)
    “Why have you forgotten(AD) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(AE)
    oppressed(AF) by the enemy?”(AG)
10 My bones suffer mortal agony(AH)
    as my foes taunt(AI) me,
saying to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”(AJ)

11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 42:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
  2. Psalm 42:1 In Hebrew texts 42:1-11 is numbered 42:2-12.
  3. Psalm 42:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  4. Psalm 42:4 See Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.