Psalms 42

For the music director; a well-written song#tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. The word is derived from a verb meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.” Various options are: “a contemplative song,” “a song imparting moral wisdom,” or “a skillful [i.e., well-written] song.” The term occurs in the superscriptions of Pss 32, 42, 44, 45, 52-55, 74, 78, 88, 89, and 142, as well as in Ps 47:7. by the Korahites.

Psalm 42#sn Psalm 42. The psalmist recalls how he once worshiped in the Lord’s temple, but laments that he is now oppressed by enemies in a foreign land. Some medieval Hebrew mss combine Psalms 42 and 43 into a single psalm.

1As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God!

2I thirst for God, for the living God. I say, “When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?”

3I cannot eat, I weep day and night; all day long they say to me, “Where is your God?”

4I will remember and weep! For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God, shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival.

5Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.

6I am depressed, so I will pray to you while I am trapped here in the region of the upper Jordan, from Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

7One deep stream calls out to another at the sound of your waterfalls; all your billows and waves overwhelm me.

8By day the Lord decrees his loyal love, and by night he gives me a song, a prayer to the living God.

9I will pray to God, my high ridge: “Why do you ignore me? Why must I walk around mourning because my enemies oppress me?”

10My enemies’ taunts cut into me to the bone, as they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

11Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.