1To the choirmaster. A Maskil[1] of the Sons of Korah. As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. (1Ch 6:33; 1Ch 6:37; Joe 1:20)2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?[2] (Ex 23:17; Jos 3:10; Ps 63:1; Ps 84:2; Ps 84:7; Isa 41:17; Isa 55:1; Da 6:26; Joh 7:37)3My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” (Ps 42:10; Ps 79:10; Ps 80:5; Ps 102:9; Ps 115:2; Joe 2:17; Mic 7:10)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. (1Sa 1:15; 2Sa 6:15; Job 30:16; Ps 55:14; Ps 62:8; Isa 30:29; La 2:19)5Why 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[3] (Ps 42:11; Ps 43:5; Ps 77:3; La 3:24; Mt 26:38; Joh 12:27)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. (De 3:9; 2Sa 17:22; 2Sa 17:24; Jon 2:7)7Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. (Ps 32:6; Ps 88:7; Jon 2:3)8By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. (Job 35:10; Ps 4:4; Ps 16:7; Ps 44:4; Ps 63:6; Ps 68:28; Ps 71:3; Ps 77:6; Ps 119:55; Ps 119:62; Ps 119:148; Ps 133:3; Ps 149:5)9I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” (2Sa 22:2; Ps 18:2; Ps 38:6; Ps 43:2)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?” (Ps 42:3)11Why 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. (Ps 42:5)
Psalm 42
New International Version
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.
1As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.[1]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?’4These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One[2] with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.5Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour 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.7Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.8By day the Lord directs his love, 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 must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’10My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’11Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.
Psalm 42
King James Version
1To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?3My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?4When I remember these things , I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.5Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou 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 will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.7Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.8Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.9I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?10As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?11Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 42
New International Reader’s Version
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.
1A deer longs for streams of water. God, I long for you in the same way.2I am thirsty for God. I am thirsty for the living God. When can I go and meet with him?3My tears have been my food day and night. All day long people say to me, ‘Where is your God?’4When I remember what has happened, I tell God all my troubles. I remember how I used to walk to the house of God. The Mighty One guarded my steps. We shouted with joy and praised God as we went along with the joyful crowd.5My spirit, why are you so sad? Why are you so upset deep down inside me? Put your hope in God. Once again I will have reason to praise him. He is my Saviour and my God.6My spirit is very sad deep down inside me. So I will remember you here where the River Jordan begins. I will remember you here on the Hermon mountains and on Mount Mizar.7You have sent wave upon wave of trouble over me. It roars down on me like a waterfall. All your waves and breakers have rolled over me.8During the day the LORD sends his love to me. During the night I sing about him. I say a prayer to the God who gives me life.9I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go around in sorrow? Why am I treated so badly by my enemies?’10My body suffers deadly pain as my enemies make fun of me. All day long they say to me, ‘Where is your God?’11My spirit, why are you so sad? Why are you so upset deep down inside me? Put your hope in God. Once again I will have reason to praise him. He is my Saviour and my God.