Psalms 42 GNV
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 him that excelleth. A Psalme to give instruction, committed to the sonnes of Korah. As the harte brayeth for the riuers of water, so panteth my soule after thee, O God.
2My soule thirsteth for God, euen for the liuing God: when shall I come and appeare before the presence of God?
3My teares haue bin my meate day and night, while they dayly say vnto me, Where is thy God?
4When I remembred these things, I powred out my very heart, because I had gone with the multitude, and ledde them into the House of God with the voyce of singing, and prayse, as a multitude that keepeth a feast.
5Why art thou cast downe, my soule, and vnquiet within me? waite on God: for I will yet giue him thankes for the helpe of his presence.
6My God, my soule is cast downe within me, because I remember thee, from the land of Iorden, and Hermonim, and from the mount Mizar.
7One deepe calleth another deepe by the noyse of thy water spoutes: all thy waues and thy floods are gone ouer me.
8The Lord will graunt his louing kindenesse in the day, and in the night shall I sing of him, euen a prayer vnto the God of my life.
9I wil say vnto God, which is my rocke, Why hast thou forgotten mee? why goe I mourning, when the enemie oppresseth me?
10My bones are cut asunder, while mine enemies reproch me, saying dayly vnto me, Where is thy God?
11Why art thou cast downe, my soule? and why art thou disquieted within mee? waite on God: for I wil yet giue him thankes: he is my present helpe, and my God.
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