Psalm 42

Book Two

Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?

1. To the choirmaster. A Maskil[a] of the Sons of Korah. 1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, 1 so pants my soul for you, O God.

2. My soul thirsts for God, 2 for the living God. 2 When shall I come and appear before God?[b]

3. My tears have been my food 3 day and night, 3 while they say to me all the day long, 3 “Where is your God?”

4. These things I remember, 4 as I pour out my soul: 4 how I would go with the throng 4 and lead them in procession to the house of God 4 with glad shouts and songs of praise, 4 a multitude keeping festival.

5. Why are you cast down, O my soul, 5 and why are you in turmoil within me? 5 Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, 5 my salvation[c]

6. 6 and my God. 6 My soul is cast down within me; 6 therefore I remember you 6 from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, 6 from Mount Mizar.

7. Deep calls to deep 7 at the roar of your waterfalls; 7 all your breakers and your waves 7 have gone over me.

8. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, 8 and at night his song is with me, 8 a prayer to the God of my life.

9. I say to God, my rock: 9 “Why have you forgotten me? 9 Why do I go mourning 9 because of the oppression of the enemy?”

10. As with a deadly wound in my bones, 10 my adversaries taunt me, 10 while they say to me all the day long, 10 “Where is your God?”

11. Why are you cast down, O my soul, 11 and why are you in turmoil within me? 11 Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, 11 my salvation and my God.

Footnotes:
a. Psalm 42:1: Probably a musical or liturgical term
b. Psalm 42:2: Revocalization yields and see the face of God
c. Psalm 42:5: Hebrew the salvation of my face; also verse 11 and 43:5