1 <To the chief music-maker. Maschil. Of the sons of Korah.> Like the desire of the roe for the water-streams, so is my soul's desire for you, O God.
2 My soul is dry for need of God, the living God; when may I come and see the face of God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they keep saying to me, Where is your God?
4 Let my soul be overflowing with grief when these things come back to my mind, how I went in company to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with the song of those who were keeping the feast.
5 Why are you crushed down, O my soul? and why are you troubled in me? put your hope in God; for I will again give him praise who is my help and my God.
6 My soul is crushed down in me, so I will keep you in mind; from the land of Jordan and of the Hermons, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep is sounding to deep at the noise of your waterfalls; all your waves have gone rolling over me.
8 But the Lord will send his mercy in the daytime, and in the night his song will be with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my Rock, Why have you let me go from your memory? why do I go in sorrow because of the attacks of my haters?
10 The cruel words of my haters are like a crushing of my bones; when they say to me every day, Where is your God?
11 Why are you crushed down, O my soul? and why are you troubled in me? put your hope in God; for I will again give him praise who is my help and my God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Psalm 42 express?
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Today's Verse
Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, As infants that never saw light.
Verse Of The DayTwice the psalmist questions his own despair, asking "why art thou cast down, O my soul?" before choosing to hope in God despite waves and billows going over him. That same yearning reappears in Psalms 63:1-2; step back to Psalms 41 or forward to Psalms 43.
