Psalms 42

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 42

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.

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.

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.

7Deep 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.

9I 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?

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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The psalmist expresses profound spiritual thirst for God, likening his soul's longing to a hart panting for water. He laments his deep distress, constant tears, and the mocking taunts of enemies who question God's presence. Despite feeling cast down and overwhelmed, he repeatedly exhorts his soul to hope in God, believing he will yet praise Him for His help and salvation.

Medium Summary

Psalm 42 opens with the psalmist's intense longing for God, likened to a hart's thirst for water, expressing a desire to appear before the living God. He laments his constant tears and the mocking questions of his adversaries, who challenge God's presence. He remembers former times of joyful worship with the multitude, which contrasts sharply with his present sorrow. Despite feeling cast down and overwhelmed by troubles, he repeatedly exhorts his soul to hope in God. He affirms his belief that the LORD will show lovingkindness and that he will yet praise God, who is the source of his health and salvation.

Long Summary

Psalm 42 begins with the psalmist's fervent spiritual yearning for God, comparing his soul's desire to a hart panting for water brooks, and expressing a deep longing to come into God's presence. He describes his profound distress, marked by continuous tears and the painful taunts of his enemies who incessantly question, "Where is thy God?" The psalmist poignantly recalls happier days of communal worship, when he went with the multitude to the house of God with voices of joy and praise, a memory that intensifies his current sorrow. Despite this overwhelming dejection, he engages in a powerful self-exhortation, repeatedly asking his soul why it is cast down and disquieted, urging it to hope in God. He expresses confidence that he will yet praise God for His help and the health of His countenance. Though feeling forgotten and oppressed, and likening the enemy's reproaches to a sword in his bones, he resolves to remember God even from distant lands. He acknowledges feeling engulfed by troubles, depicted as deep calling unto deep and waves passing over him, yet maintains faith that the LORD will command His lovingkindness daily, and His song and prayer will sustain him through the night. The psalm concludes with the renewed declaration of hope and the certainty of future praise for God, his strength and salvation.

Core Concepts

  • Spiritual ThirstThe psalmist expresses an intense, desperate longing for God, comparing his soul's yearning to a hart panting for water brooks.
  • Deep DistressThe psalmist is in a state of profound sorrow, marked by constant tears and feelings of being cast down and overwhelmed by troubles, likened to waves and billows.
  • Enemy ReproachAdversaries mock the psalmist by repeatedly questioning the presence and power of his God, causing him great pain and feeling like a sword in his bones.
  • Remembrance of Past WorshipThe psalmist recalls former times of joyful communal worship in the house of God, a memory that contrasts sharply with his current isolation and sorrow.
  • Self-Exhortation to HopeThe psalmist repeatedly addresses his own soul, urging it to overcome its dejection and disquietude by placing its hope firmly in God.
  • God's LovingkindnessDespite his suffering, the psalmist expresses faith that the LORD will command His steadfast love and provide comfort and a song in the night.
  • Hope for Future PraiseThe psalmist maintains a confident expectation that he will ultimately praise God again for His deliverance, who is the health of his countenance and his God.