Psalms 42
[1]The Psalmist longeth after the service of God in the temple: [5]he encourageth his dejected soul to trust in God.
To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.
1. 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.
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. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 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. 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. 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. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 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. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 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.
NKJV
1.
As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
2.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3.
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”
4.
When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
5.
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope 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 I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
7.
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8.
The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.
9.
I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10.
As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11.
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”
When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.
O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.
I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
Metrical version
Psalm 42
C.M. Wetherby
Like as the hart for water-brooks in thirst doth pant and bray; So pants my longing soul, O God, that come to thee I may. My soul for God, the living God, doth thirst: when shall I near Unto thy countenance approach, and in God's sight appear? My tears have unto me been meat, both in the night and day, While unto me continually, Where is thy God? they say. My soul is poured out in me, when this I think upon; Because that with the multitude I heretofore had gone: With them into God's house I went, with voice of joy and praise; Yea, with the multitude that kept the solemn holy days. O why art thou cast down, my soul? why in me so dismayed? Trust God, for I shall praise him yet, his count'nance is mine aid. My God, my soul's cast down in me; thee therefore mind I will From Jordan's land, the Hermonites, and ev'n from Mizar hill. At the noise of thy water-spouts deep unto deep doth call; Thy breaking waves pass over me, yea, and thy billows all. His loving-kindness yet the LORD command will in the day, His song's with me by night; to God, by whom I live, I'll pray: And I will say to God my rock, Why me forgett'st thou so? Why, for my foes' oppression, thus mourning do I go? 'Tis as a sword within my bones, when my foes me upbraid; Ev'n when by them, Where is thy God? 'tis daily to me said. O why art thou cast down, my soul? why, thus with grief oppressed, Art thou disquieted in me? in God still hope and rest: For yet I know I shall him praise, who graciously to me The health is of my countenance, yea, mine own God is he.
Perhaps this psalm was composed by David, when the unnatural rebellion of Absalom had forced him from the sanctuary of God, and to take up his lodging eastward of Jordan, 2 Sam. 15:13-19. We have in it, (1.) Ardent longings after nearness to, and familiar intimacy with God, in his public ordinances and sanctuary, ver. 1-2. (2.) Mournful lamentations and bitter groanings on account of God's withdrawing his comfortable smiles; of the want of the once-enjoyed ordinances of God, and fellowship with his saints; of the depressing impressions of God's wrath; and of his enemies' insolent upbraiding of him on account of the departure and distance of his God, ver. 3-4, 6-7, 9-10. (3.) Believing remembrance of God's former favours, ver. 6; and self- encouraging hopes of future ones, ver. 5, 8, 11.
Have I experimentally understood all these things? My soul, let me charge thee to beware of dissimulation with God, and of compassing him about with lies, under pretence of praising him. Dare not to sing these lines without inward, without ardent longings for the Lord; without earnest claiming of him as thy own God, upon the foundation of his new-covenant grant of himself to me in the gospel; without assured hopes of his future, his everlasting kindness to me-ward.