Psalm chapter 42
English Standard Version
1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?" 4These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation 6and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. 8By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. 9I say to God, my rock: "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" 10As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?" 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
New International Version
1For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
5Why, 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. 6My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
New American Standard Bible
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, God. 2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? 3My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?' 4I remember these things and pour out my soul within me. For I used to go over with the multitude and walk them to the house of God, With a voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude celebrating a festival. 5Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him For the help of His presence, my God. 6My soul is in despair within me; Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have passed over me. 8The Lord will send His goodness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life. 9I will say to God my rock, 'Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?' 10As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries taunt me, While they say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?' 11Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him For the help of His presence, my God.
Christian Standard Bible
1For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God. 2I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God? 3My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, "Where is your God?"
4I remember this as I pour out my heart: how I walked with many, leading the festive procession to the house of God, with joyful and thankful shouts. 5Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God. 6I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your billows have swept over me.
8The Lord will send his faithful love by day; his song will be with me in the night— a prayer to the God of my life. 9I will say to God, my rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?" 10My adversaries taunt me, as if crushing my bones, while all day long they say to me, "Where is your God?" 11Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.
New Living Translation
1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? 3Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, 'Where is this God of yours?'
6my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you — even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. 7I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. 8But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.
King James Version
New King James Version
1{To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah.} As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” 4When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. 6O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar. 7Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. 8The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life. 9I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” 10 As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
What does Psalm chapter 42 mean?
This begins the second major division of the Psalms, often referred to as "Book Two," which continues through Psalm 72. This is labelled as a maskil, most likely a musical arrangement, as are Psalms 32, 52, and 89, among others. Psalm 42 is associated with the "Sons of Korah." These were probably groups descended from the infamous family punished after the exodus (Numbers 26:9–11). Some commentators believe the Sons of Korah became influential worship leaders during the time of David and Solomon. Whether they wrote the psalms tied to their names, or the psalms were written for them to sing, is not clear.The psalm begins expressing a desperate longing for God. This famous comparison depicts an animal panting with thirst. Desire to know and commune with God is an urgent, vital need. Here, the psalmist likely wishes to worship God in the sanctuary—the temple—in Jerusalem. Being kept from that worship is painful. Yet the psalmist puts trust in the Lord and speaks reassurance about his own salvation (Psalm 42:1–5).
Even faithful people can be tempted to despair. The writer turns to express a sense of overwhelming grief. This is compared to a brutal chain of oncoming waves or the relentless pounding of a waterfall. Another possible nuance is the idea of deep spiritual need crying out for an equally deep response. Enemy attacks tempt the psalmist to despair, but God is the solid Rock worthy of trust. Being mocked by unbelievers is painful but should not override our trust in God's goodness. Instead, the psalmist looks to the future with hope (Psalm 42:6–11).
