Psalms 43
What Happens in This Chapter
In this psalm, a person asks God to defend him against people who lie and treat him badly. He asks God to send light and truth to guide him back to God's holy hill, where he will praise God with a harp. At the end he talks to himself, telling his sad heart to keep hoping in God.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
1God, say that I am in the right. Speak up for me against a nation that does not follow you. Save me from men who lie and cheat.
"Plead my cause" is like a court. The writer asks God to speak for him, the way a lawyer speaks for someone.
2For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
2You are the God who keeps me safe and strong. So why have you pushed me away? Why do I walk around sad because my enemy hurts me?
3O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
3Send out your light and your truth. Let them show me the way. Let them bring me to your holy hill, to the place where you live.
The "holy hill" is the hill in Jerusalem where God's house stood. The writer wants to go back there and worship.
4Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
4Then I will come to God's altar. God is my very greatest joy. I will play the harp and sing your praise, my God.
5Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
5Why are you so sad, my heart? Why do you feel worried inside me? Wait for God with hope. I will praise him again. He makes my face glad. He is my God.
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