Psalm 42-44

BOOK II Psalm 42In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.,In Hebrew texts 42:1-11 is numbered 42:2-12. 1For the director of music. A maskil Title: Probably a literary or musical term of the Sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

3My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

4These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One See Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain. with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

5Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

6My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

7Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

8By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.

9I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”

10My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 43In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm. 1Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked.

2You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?

3Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.

4Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. 5Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 44In Hebrew texts 44:1-26 is numbered 44:2-27. 1For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. Title: Probably a literary or musical term We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.

2With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish.

3It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.

4You are my King and my God, who decrees Septuagint, Aquila and Syriac; Hebrew King, O God; / command victories for Jacob.

5Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.

6I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;

7but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.

8In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

9But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies.

10You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us.

11You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.

12You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale.

13You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us.

14You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us.

15I live in disgrace all day long, and my face is covered with shame

16at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.

17All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten you; we had not been false to your covenant.

18Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path.

19But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals; you covered us over with deep darkness.

20If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,

21would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?

22Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

23Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.

24Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?

25We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. 26Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.