Psalms 42 DBY
Summary: Opening Book II of the Psalter, attributed to the sons of Korah, Psalm 42 gives voice to exile and spiritual thirst through one of Scripture's most famous images: "as a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God" (v. 1). The psalmist recalls leading festival processions "with shouts of joy and praise" now barred to him, weeping day and night far from the temple, perhaps in the region of Mount Hermon. Its refrain, repeated here and in Psalm 43, interrogates the psalmist's own despair: "Why are you cast down, O my soul?... hope in God" (v. 5, 11).
1To the chief Musician. An instruction; of the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, OGod.
2My soul thirsteth forGod, for the livingGod: when shall I come and appear beforeGod?
3My tears have been my bread day and night, while they say unto me all the day, Where is thyGod?
4These things I remember and have poured out my soul within me: how I passed along with the multitude, how I went on with them to the house ofGod, with the voice of joy and praise, a festive multitude.
5Why art thou cast down, my soul, and art disquieted in me? hope inGod; for I shall yet praise him, [for] the health of his countenance.
6MyGod, my soul is cast down within me; therefore do I remember thee from the land of the Jordan, and the Hermons, from mount Mizar.
7Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy cataracts; all thy breakers and thy billows are gone over me.
8In the day-time will Jehovah command his loving-kindness, and in the night his song shall be with me, a prayer unto theGod of my life.
9I will say untoGod my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10As with a crushing in my bones mine adversaries reproach me, while they say unto me all the day, Where is thyGod?
11Why art thou cast down, my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope inGod; for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and myGod.
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