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Psalm 42

English Standard Version



1 To 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) 2 My 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) 3 My 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) 4 These 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) 5 Why 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) 6 and 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) 7 Deep 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) 8 By 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) 9 I 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) 10 As 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) 11 Why 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) 

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Psalm 42

New International Version



1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.[1] 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’ 4 These 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. 5 Why, 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. 6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon – from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’ 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’ 11 Why, 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. 

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Psalm 42

King James Version

1 To 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. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4 When 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. 5 Why 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. 6 O 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. 7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 8 Yet 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. 9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 11 Why 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. 

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain.
Please note the following exceptions for use and publication in the United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

Psalm 42

New International Reader’s Version



1 A deer longs for streams of water. God, I long for you in the same way. 2 I am thirsty for God. I am thirsty for the living God. When can I go and meet with him? 3 My tears have been my food day and night. All day long people say to me, ‘Where is your God?’ 4 When 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. 5 My 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. 6 My 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. 7 You 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. 8 During 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. 9 I 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?’ 10 My body suffers deadly pain as my enemies make fun of me. All day long they say to me, ‘Where is your God?’ 11 My 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. 

Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® (Anglicised)
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

“Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.