Psalms 42
42
Book 2
(Psalms 42-72)
To the director: A maskil from the Korah family.
1Like a deer drinking from a stream,
I reach out to you, my God.#42:1 Or “As a deer stretches out to drink water from a stream, so my soul thirsts for you, God.”
2My soul thirsts for the living God.
When can I go to meet with him?
3Instead of food, I have only tears day and night,
as my enemies laugh at me and say, “Where is your God?”
4My heart breaks as I remember the pleasant times in the past,
when I walked with the crowds as I led them up to God’s Temple.
I remember the happy songs of praise
as they celebrated the festival.
5-6Why am I so sad?
Why am I so upset?
I tell myself, “Wait for God’s help!
You will again be able to praise him,
your God, the one who will save you.”
In my sadness I say, “I will remember you from here on this small hill,#42:5-6 small hill Or “Mount Mizar.”
where Mount Hermon and the Jordan River meet.”
7I hear the roar of the water coming from deep within the earth.
It shouts to the water below as it tumbles down the waterfall.
God, your waves come one after another,
crashing all around and over me.#42:7 God, your waves … over me These word pictures describe the psalmist’s feelings about the many troubles the Lord has allowed him to experience.
8By day the Lord shows his faithful love,
and at night I have a song for him—a prayer for the God of my life.#42:8 the God of my life Or “my living God.”
9I say to God, my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I suffer this sadness that my enemies have brought me?”
10Their constant insults are killing me.
They never stop asking, “Where is your God?”
11Why am I so sad?
Why am I so upset?
I tell myself, “Wait for God’s help!
You will again be able to praise him,
your God, the one who will save you.”
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Psalms 42
42
BOOK II
(Psalms 42–72)
(A special psalm by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)
Longing for God
1As a deer gets thirsty
for streams of water,
I truly am thirsty
for you, my God.
2In my heart, I am thirsty
for you, the living God.
When will I see your face?
3Day and night my tears
are my only food,
as everyone keeps asking,
“Where is your God?”
4Sorrow floods my heart,
when I remember
leading the worshipers
to your house.#42.4 leading … house: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
I can still hear them shout
their joyful praises.
5Why am I discouraged?
Why am I restless?
I should trust you, Lord.
I will praise you again
because you help me,
6and you are my God.
I am deeply discouraged,
and so I think about you
here where the Jordan begins
at Mount Hermon
and at Mount Mizar.#42.6 Mount Mizar: The location is not known.
7Your vicious waves
have swept over me
like an angry ocean
or a roaring waterfall.
8Every day, you are kind,
and at night
you give me a song
as my prayer to you,
the God of my life.
9You are my mighty rock.#42.9 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.
Why have you forgotten me?
Why must enemies mistreat me
and make me sad?
10Even my bones are in pain,
while all day long
my enemies sneer and ask,
“Where is your God?”
11Why am I discouraged?
Why am I restless?
I trust you, Lord!
And I will praise you again
because you help me,
and you are my God.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.