Psalms 42
What Happens in This Chapter
A singer is far from God's house and feels very sad. He remembers happier days when he walked with a joyful crowd to worship, and he asks God why he feels forgotten. Twice he speaks to his own heart and tells it to keep hoping in God. The psalm sets deep sadness and steady hope side by side.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
1A deer gets thirsty and looks for a running stream. My soul wants you, God, just like that.
A "hart" is an old English word for a male deer.
2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
2I am thirsty for God, the God who is alive. When can I come and stand before him?
3My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
3My tears are all I have, day and night. People keep saying to me, "Where is your God?"
The KJV says his tears were his "meat." In 1611, "meat" meant food of any kind. He means he cried instead of eating.
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.
4I remember, and my sadness pours out of me. I used to walk with a big crowd to God's house. We shouted for joy and sang, keeping a special day for God.
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.
5Why am I so sad? Why is my heart so upset? Keep hoping in God. I will praise him again for the help he gives when he is near.
6O 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.
6My God, my heart feels heavy inside me. So I remember you from the land by the Jordan River, from the peaks of Mount Hermon, from little Mount Mizar.
The Jordan River, Mount Hermon, and Mount Mizar are all far north in the country. The singer is a long way from God's house.
7Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
7Deep water calls to deep water where your waterfalls roar. All your waves have rolled right over me.
8Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
8By day the LORD sends his faithful love to me. At night his song is with me. It is my prayer to the God who gives me life.
9I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
9I say to God, my rock: Why have you forgotten me? Why do I walk around sad while enemies push me down?
10As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
10My enemies make fun of me, and it hurts like crushed bones. All day long they say, "Where is your 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.
11Why am I so sad? Why is my heart so upset? Keep hoping in God. I will praise him again. He saves me, and he is my God.
← → to turn the page · P for plain English · click a verse to sit with it