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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 II (Psalms 42-72)

To the Director: An instruction[a] of the Sons of Korah.

Hope in God When Times of Trouble Come

42 As an antelope pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When may I come and appear in God’s presence?
My tears have been my food day and night,
    while people[b] keep asking me all day long,
        “Where is your God?”

These things I will recall as I pour out my troubles[c] within me:
    I used to go with the crowd in a procession to the house of God,
        accompanied with shouts of joy and thanksgiving.

Why are you in despair, my soul?
    Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God,
    for once again I will praise him,
        since his presence saves me.
My God, my soul feels depressed[d] within me;
    therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan,
from the heights of Hermon,
    even from the foothills.[e]
Deep waters call out to what is deeper still;[f]
    at the roar of your waterfalls
        all your breakers and your waves swirled over me.

By day the Lord will command his gracious love,
    and by night his song is with me—
        a prayer to the God of my life.
I will ask God, my Rock, “Why have you forsaken me?
    Why do I go around mourning under the enemy’s oppression?”
10 Like the shattering of my bones are the taunts of my oppressors,
    saying to me all day long,
        “Where is your God?”

11 Why are you in despair, my soul?
    Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God,
    for once again I will praise him,
since his presence saves me
    and he is my God.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 42:1 Lit. maskil
  2. Psalm 42:3 The Heb. lacks people
  3. Psalm 42:4 Lit. soul
  4. Psalm 42:6 Lit. soul is bowed down
  5. Psalm 42:6 Or from Mount Mizar
  6. Psalm 42:7 Lit. Deep calls to deep