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BOOK 2

For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by the sons of Korah.

42 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
    so my soul pants after you, God.[a]
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
    while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”
These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me,
    how I used to go with the crowd, and led them to God’s house,
    with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a holy day.
Why are you in despair, my soul?
    Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God!
    For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence.
My God, my soul is in despair within me.
    Therefore I remember you from the land of the Jordan,
    the heights of Hermon, from the hill Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls.
    All your waves and your billows have swept over me.

Yahweh[b] will command his loving kindness in the daytime.
    In the night his song shall be with me:
    a prayer to the God of my life.
I will ask God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me?
    Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries reproach me,
    while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you in despair, my soul?
    Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God! For I shall still praise him,
    the saving help of my countenance, and my God.

Footnotes

  1. 42:1 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
  2. 42:8 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.

Book Two

Psalm 42

To the Chief Musician. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of the sons of Korah.

As the hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God.

My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?(A)

My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, Where is your God?

These things I [earnestly] remember and pour myself out within me: how I went slowly before the throng and led them in procession to the house of God [like a bandmaster before his band, timing the steps to the sound of music and the chant of song], with the voice of shouting and praise, a throng keeping festival.

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God.

O my God, my life is cast down upon me [and I find the burden more than I can bear]; therefore will I [earnestly] remember You from the land of the Jordan [River] and the [summits of Mount] Hermon, from the little mountain Mizar.

[Roaring] deep calls to [roaring] deep at the thunder of Your waterspouts; all Your breakers and Your rolling waves have gone over me.

Yet the Lord will command His loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

I will say to God my Rock, Why have You forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

10 As with a sword [crushing] in my bones, my enemies taunt and reproach me, while they say continually to me, Where is your God?

11 Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God.