Psalms 42 WEB
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).
1As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after 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 continually ask me, “Where is your God?”
4These 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.
5Why 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.
6My 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.
7Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls. All your waves and your billows have swept over me.
8Yahweh 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.
9I will ask God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries reproach me, while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”
11Why 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.
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