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Psalm 42-46
Contemporary English Version
Psalm 42-46
Contemporary English Version
BOOK II
(Psalms 42–72)
(A special psalm by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)
Longing for God
1 As a deer gets thirsty
for streams of water,
I truly am thirsty
for you, my God.
2 In my heart, I am thirsty
for you, the living God.
When will I see your face?
3 Day and night my tears
are my only food,
as everyone keeps asking,
“Where is your God?”
4 Sorrow floods my heart,
when I remember
leading the worshipers
to your house.[a]
I can still hear them shout
their joyful praises.
5 Why am I discouraged?
Why am I restless?
I should trust you, Lord.
I will praise you again
because you help me,
6 and you are my God.
I am deeply discouraged,
and so I think about you
here where the Jordan begins
at Mount Hermon
and at Mount Mizar.[b]
7 Your vicious waves
have swept over me
like an angry ocean
or a roaring waterfall.
8 Every day, you are kind,
and at night
you give me a song
as my prayer to you,
the God of my life.
9 You are my mighty rock.[c]
Why have you forgotten me?
Why must enemies mistreat me
and make me sad?
10 Even my bones are in pain,
while all day long
my enemies sneer and ask,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why am I discouraged?
Why am I restless?
I trust you, Lord!
And I will praise you again
because you help me,
and you are my God.
A Prayer in Times of Trouble
1 Show that I am right, God!
Defend me against everyone
who doesn't know you;
rescue me from each
of those deceitful liars.
2 I run to you for protection.
Why do you turn me away?
Why must enemies mistreat me
and make me sad?
3 Send your light and your truth
to guide me.
Let them lead me to your house
on your sacred mountain.
4 Then I will worship
at your altar because you
make me joyful.
You are my God,
and I will praise you.
Yes, I will praise you
as I play my harp.
5 Why am I discouraged?
Why am I restless?
I trust you, Lord!
And I will praise you again
because you help me,
and you are my God.
(A special psalm by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)
A Prayer for Help
1 Our God, our ancestors told us
what wonders you worked
and we listened carefully.
2 You chased off the nations
by causing them trouble
with your powerful arm.
Then you let our ancestors
take over their land.
3 Their strength and weapons
were not what won the land
and gave them victory!
You loved them and fought
with your powerful arm
and your shining glory.
4 You are my God and King,
and you give victory[d]
to the people of Jacob.
5 By your great power,
we knocked our enemies down
and trampled on them.
6 I don't depend on my arrows
or my sword to save me.
7 But you saved us
from our hateful enemies,
and you put them to shame.
8 We boast about you, our God,
and we are always grateful.
9 But now you have rejected us;
you don't lead us into battle,
and we look foolish.
10 You made us retreat,
and our enemies have taken
everything we own.
11 You let us be slaughtered
like sheep,
and you scattered us
among the nations.
12 You sold your people
for little or nothing,
and you earned no profit.
13 You made us look foolish
to our neighbors;
people who live nearby
insult us and sneer.
14 Foreigners joke about us
and shake their heads.
15 I am embarrassed every day,
and I blush with shame.
16 But others mock and sneer,
as they watch my enemies
take revenge on me.
17 All this happened to us,
though we didn't forget you
or break our agreement.
18 We always kept you in mind
and followed your teaching.
19 But you crushed us,
and you covered us
with deepest darkness
where wild animals live.
20 We did not forget you
or lift our hands in prayer
to foreign gods.
21 You would have known it
because you discover
every secret thought.
22 (A) We face death all day for you.
We are like sheep on their way
to be slaughtered.
23 Wake up! Do something, Lord!
Why are you sleeping?
Don't desert us forever.
24 Why do you keep looking away?
Don't forget our sufferings
and all our troubles.
25 We are flat on the ground,
holding on to the dust.
26 Do something! Help us!
Show how kind you are
and come to our rescue.
(A special psalm by the clan of Korah and for the music leader. To the tune “Lilies.” A love song.)
For a Royal Wedding
1 My thoughts are filled
with beautiful words
for the king,
and I will use my voice
as a writer would use
pen and ink.
2 No one is as handsome as you!
Your words are always kind.
That is why God
will always bless you.
3 Mighty king, glorious ruler,
strap on your sword
4 and ride out in splendor!
Win victories for truth
and mercy and justice.
Do fearsome things
with your powerful arm.
5 Send your sharp arrows
through enemy hearts
and make all nations fall
at your feet.
6 (B) You are God, and you will rule
forever as king.[e]
Your royal power
brings about justice.
7 You love justice and hate evil.
And so, your God chose you
and made you happier
than any of your friends.
8 The sweet aroma of the spices
myrrh, aloes, and cassia
covers your royal robes.
You enjoy the music of harps
in palaces decorated
with ivory.
9 Daughters of kings are here,
and your bride stands
at your right side,
wearing a wedding gown
trimmed with pure gold.[f]
10 Bride of the king,
listen carefully to me.
Forget your own people
and your father's family. 11 The king adores you.
He is your master,
so do what he desires.
12 All of the richest people
from the city of Tyre
will try to influence you
13 with precious treasures.
Your bride, my king,
has inward beauty,[g]
and her wedding gown is woven
with threads of gold.
14 Wearing the finest garments,
she is brought to you,
followed by her young friends,
the bridesmaids.
15 Everyone is excited,
as they follow you
to the royal palace.
16 Your sons and your grandsons
will also be kings
as your ancestors were.
You will make them rulers
everywhere on earth.
17 I will make your name famous
from now on,
and you will be praised
forever and ever.
(A special song by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)
God Is Our Mighty Fortress
1 God is our mighty fortress,
always ready to help
in times of trouble.
2 And so, we won't be afraid!
Let the earth tremble
and the mountains tumble
into the deepest sea.
3 Let the ocean roar and foam,
and its raging waves
shake the mountains.
4 A river and its streams
bring joy to the city,
which is the sacred home
of God Most High.
5 God is in that city,
and it won't be shaken.
He will help it at dawn.
6 Nations rage! Kingdoms fall!
But at the voice of God
the earth itself melts.
7 The Lord All-Powerful
is with us.
The God of Jacob
is our fortress.
8 Come! See the fearsome things
the Lord has done on earth.
9 God brings wars to an end
all over the world.
He breaks the arrows,
shatters the spears,
and burns the shields.[h]
10 Our God says, “Calm down,
and learn that I am God!
All nations on earth
will honor me.”
11 The Lord All-Powerful
is with us.
The God of Jacob
is our fortress.
Footnotes
- 42.4 leading … house: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 42.6 Mount Mizar: The location is not known.
- 42.9 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.
- 44.4 and … victory: One ancient translation; Hebrew “please give victory.”
- 45.6 You … king: Or “God has made you king, and you will rule forever.”
- 45.9 trimmed with pure gold: Hebrew has “with gold from Ophir,” which may have been in Africa or India. Gold from there was considered the very best.
- 45.13 has inward beauty: Or “is dressed in her room.”
- 46.9 shields: Or “chariots.”
Psalm 42-46
New International Version
Psalm 42-46
New International Version
BOOK II
Psalms 42–72
Psalm 42[a][b]
For the director of music. A maskil[c] of the Sons of Korah.
1 As the deer(A) pants for streams of water,(B)
so my soul pants(C) for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts(D) for God, for the living God.(E)
When can I go(F) and meet with God?
3 My tears(G) have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”(H)
4 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)
5 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)
6 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.
7 Deep calls to deep(W)
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.(X)
8 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)
9 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)
Psalm 43[e]
1 Vindicate me, my God,
and plead my cause(AL)
against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me(AM) from those who are
deceitful and wicked.(AN)
2 You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected(AO) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(AP)
oppressed by the enemy?(AQ)
3 Send me your light(AR) and your faithful care,(AS)
let them lead me;(AT)
let them bring me to your holy mountain,(AU)
to the place where you dwell.(AV)
4 Then I will go(AW) to the altar(AX) of God,
to God, my joy(AY) and my delight.(AZ)
I will praise you with the lyre,(BA)
O God, my God.
5 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.(BB)
Psalm 44[f]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[g]
1 We have heard it with our ears,(BC) O God;
our ancestors have told us(BD)
what you did in their days,
in days long ago.(BE)
2 With your hand you drove out(BF) the nations
and planted(BG) our ancestors;
you crushed(BH) the peoples
and made our ancestors flourish.(BI)
3 It was not by their sword(BJ) that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand,(BK) your arm,(BL)
and the light(BM) of your face, for you loved(BN) them.
4 You are my King(BO) and my God,(BP)
who decrees[h] victories(BQ) for Jacob.
5 Through you we push back(BR) our enemies;
through your name we trample(BS) our foes.
6 I put no trust in my bow,(BT)
my sword does not bring me victory;
7 but you give us victory(BU) over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.(BV)
8 In God we make our boast(BW) all day long,(BX)
and we will praise your name forever.[i](BY)
9 But now you have rejected(BZ) and humbled us;(CA)
you no longer go out with our armies.(CB)
10 You made us retreat(CC) before the enemy,
and our adversaries have plundered(CD) us.
11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep(CE)
and have scattered us among the nations.(CF)
12 You sold your people for a pittance,(CG)
gaining nothing from their sale.
13 You have made us a reproach(CH) to our neighbors,(CI)
the scorn(CJ) and derision(CK) of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword(CL) among the nations;
the peoples shake their heads(CM) at us.
15 I live in disgrace(CN) all day long,
and my face is covered with shame(CO)
16 at the taunts(CP) of those who reproach and revile(CQ) me,
because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.(CR)
17 All this came upon us,
though we had not forgotten(CS) you;
we had not been false to your covenant.
18 Our hearts had not turned(CT) back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.
19 But you crushed(CU) us and made us a haunt for jackals;(CV)
you covered us over with deep darkness.(CW)
20 If we had forgotten(CX) the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,(CY)
21 would not God have discovered it,
since he knows the secrets of the heart?(CZ)
22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep(DA) to be slaughtered.(DB)
23 Awake,(DC) Lord! Why do you sleep?(DD)
Rouse yourself!(DE) Do not reject us forever.(DF)
24 Why do you hide your face(DG)
and forget(DH) our misery and oppression?(DI)
25 We are brought down to the dust;(DJ)
our bodies cling to the ground.
26 Rise up(DK) and help us;
rescue(DL) us because of your unfailing love.(DM)
Psalm 45[j]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[k] A wedding song.(DN)
1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2 You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,(DO)
since God has blessed you forever.(DP)
3 Gird your sword(DQ) on your side, you mighty one;(DR)
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.(DS)
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously(DT)
in the cause of truth, humility and justice;(DU)
let your right hand(DV) achieve awesome deeds.(DW)
5 Let your sharp arrows(DX) pierce the hearts(DY) of the king’s enemies;(DZ)
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God,[l] will last for ever and ever;(EA)
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness(EB) and hate wickedness;(EC)
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing(ED) you with the oil of joy.(EE)
8 All your robes are fragrant(EF) with myrrh(EG) and aloes(EH) and cassia;(EI)
from palaces adorned with ivory(EJ)
the music of the strings(EK) makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings(EL) are among your honored women;
at your right hand(EM) is the royal bride(EN) in gold of Ophir.(EO)
10 Listen, daughter,(EP) and pay careful attention:(EQ)
Forget your people(ER) and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;(ES)
honor(ET) him, for he is your lord.(EU)
12 The city of Tyre(EV) will come with a gift,[m](EW)
people of wealth will seek your favor.
13 All glorious(EX) is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.(EY)
14 In embroidered garments(EZ) she is led to the king;(FA)
her virgin companions(FB) follow her—
those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,(FC)
they enter the palace of the king.
16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes(FD) throughout the land.
17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;(FE)
therefore the nations will praise you(FF) for ever and ever.(FG)
Psalm 46[n]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[o] A song.
1 God is our refuge(FH) and strength,(FI)
an ever-present(FJ) help(FK) in trouble.(FL)
2 Therefore we will not fear,(FM) though the earth give way(FN)
and the mountains fall(FO) into the heart of the sea,(FP)
3 though its waters roar(FQ) and foam(FR)
and the mountains quake(FS) with their surging.[p]
4 There is a river(FT) whose streams(FU) make glad the city of God,(FV)
the holy place where the Most High(FW) dwells.(FX)
5 God is within her,(FY) she will not fall;(FZ)
God will help(GA) her at break of day.
6 Nations(GB) are in uproar,(GC) kingdoms(GD) fall;
he lifts his voice,(GE) the earth melts.(GF)
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,(GK)
the desolations(GL) he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars(GM) cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow(GN) and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[q] with fire.(GO)
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;(GP)
I will be exalted(GQ) among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Footnotes
- Psalm 42:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
- Psalm 42:1 In Hebrew texts 42:1-11 is numbered 42:2-12.
- Psalm 42:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 42:4 See Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
- Psalm 43:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
- Psalm 44:1 In Hebrew texts 44:1-26 is numbered 44:2-27.
- Psalm 44:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 44:4 Septuagint, Aquila and Syriac; Hebrew King, O God; / command
- Psalm 44:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 45:1 In Hebrew texts 45:1-17 is numbered 45:2-18.
- Psalm 45:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 45:6 Here the king is addressed as God’s representative.
- Psalm 45:12 Or A Tyrian robe is among the gifts
- Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
- Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.
- Psalm 46:9 Or chariots
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