Psalms

Psalm 42:1–3

1For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.a

As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul longs after You, O God.

2My soul thirsts for God, the living God.

When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?b

3My tears have been my food

both day and night,

while men ask me all day long,

“Where is your God?”

Footnotes

  • a 42:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm. Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.
  • b 42:2 Or and see the face of God?

Read all of Psalm 42

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Psalm 42:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
For the choirmasterלַמְנַצֵּ֗חַlam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥPreposition-l, Article; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularH5329 be pre-eminent, enduring
A Maskilמַשְׂכִּ֥ילmaś·kîlNoun - masculine singularH4905 contemplative poem
of the sonsלִבְנֵי־liḇ·nê-Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
of Korahקֹֽרַח׃qō·raḥNoun - proper - masculine singularH7141 Korach
As the deerכְּאַיָּ֗לkə·’ay·yālPreposition-k; Noun - masculine singularH354 hart, stag, deer
pantsתַּעֲרֹ֥גta·‘ă·rōḡVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH6165 long for
forעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
streamsאֲפִֽיקֵי־’ă·p̄î·qê-Noun - masculine plural constructH650 channel
of waterמָ֑יִםmā·yimNoun - masculine pluralH4325 water, juice, urine
soכֵּ֤ןkênAdverbH3651 right, veritable, honest
my soulנַפְשִׁ֨יnap̄·šîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
longsתַעֲרֹ֖גṯa·‘ă·rōḡVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH6165 long for
after Youאֵלֶ֣יךָ’ê·le·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singularH413 motion to
O Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God

Psalm 42:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
My soulנַפְשִׁ֨י׀nap̄·šîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
thirstsצָמְאָ֬הṣā·mə·’āhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularH6770 be thirsty
for Godלֵאלֹהִים֮lê·lō·hîmPreposition-l; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
the livingחָ֥יḥāyAdjective - masculine singularH2416 alive, living
Godלְאֵ֪לlə·’êlPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singularH410 god
Whenמָתַ֥יmā·ṯayInterrogativeH4970 when?
shall I comeאָב֑וֹא’ā·ḇō·wVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
and appearוְ֝אֵרָאֶ֗הwə·’ê·rā·’ehConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singularH7200 see
inפְּנֵ֣יpə·nêNoun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
God’s presenceאֱלֹהִֽים׃’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God

Psalm 42:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
My tearsדִמְעָתִ֣יḏim·‘ā·ṯîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH1832 tears
have beenהָֽיְתָה־hā·yə·ṯāh-Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
myלִּ֬יlîPreposition; first person common singular
foodלֶ֭חֶםle·ḥemNoun - masculine singularH3899 bread, food
dayיוֹמָ֣םyō·w·māmAdverbH3119 daytime, by day
and nightוָלָ֑יְלָהwā·lā·yə·lāhConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH3915 twist, night, adversity
while men askבֶּאֱמֹ֥רbe·’ĕ·mōrPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH559 utter, say
meאֵלַ֥י’ê·layPreposition; first person common singularH413 motion to
all day longכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
Whereאַיֵּ֥ה’ay·yêhInterrogativeH346 Where?
is your Godאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃’ĕ·lō·he·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH430 God

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Psalm 42:1 Psalm 63:1–2 · Psalm 143:6–7 · Psalm 119:131 · Isaiah 26:8–9 · Psalm 84:1–2 · Psalm 48:1 · Psalm 46:1 · Psalm 85:1 · Psalm 45:1 · Psalm 44:1 · Psalm 47:1 · Psalm 49:1

Psalm 42:2 Psalm 63:1 · Psalm 84:10 · John 7:37 · Psalm 27:4 · Revelation 22:1 · Psalm 36:8–9 · Psalm 84:2 · Psalm 84:4 · Job 23:3 · Psalm 43:4 · 1 Thessalonians 1:9 · Jeremiah 2:13

Psalm 42:3 Psalm 79:10 · Psalm 115:2 · Joel 2:17 · Psalm 42:10 · Psalm 80:5 · Psalm 102:9 · Micah 7:10 · Psalm 79:12

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.