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Psalm 42-46
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 42-46
Holman Christian Standard Bible
BOOK II
(Psalms 42–72)
Psalm 42
Longing for God
For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.
1 As a deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for You, God.(A)
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I come and appear before God?(B)
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
while all day long people say to me,
“Where is your God?”(C)
4 I remember this as I pour out my heart:(D)
how I walked with many,
leading the festive procession to the house of God,
with joyful and thankful shouts.(E)
5 Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.(F)
6 I[a] am deeply depressed;
therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan
and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.(G)
7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls;
all Your breakers and Your billows have swept over me.(H)
8 The Lord will send His faithful love by day;(I)
His song will be with me in the night—
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God, my rock,(J)
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?”(K)
10 My adversaries taunt me,
as if crushing my bones,
while all day long they say to me,
“Where is your God?”(L)
11 Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.(M)
Psalm 43[b]
1 Vindicate me, God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly nation;
rescue me from the deceitful and unjust man.(N)
2 For You are the God of my refuge.
Why have You rejected me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?(O)
3 Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me.(P)
Let them bring me to Your holy mountain,
to Your dwelling place.(Q)
4 Then I will come to the altar of God,
to God, my greatest joy.(R)
I will praise You with the lyre,
God, my God.(S)
5 Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.(T)
Psalm 44
Israel’s Complaint
For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.
1 God, we have heard with our ears—
our ancestors have told us—
the work You accomplished in their days,
in days long ago:(U)
2 to plant them,
You drove out the nations with Your hand;
to settle them,
You crushed the peoples.(V)
3 For they did not take the land by their sword—
their arm did not bring them victory—
but by Your right hand, Your arm,
and the light of Your face,
for You were pleased with them.(W)
4 You are my King, my God,
who ordains[c] victories for Jacob.(X)
5 Through You we drive back our foes;
through Your name we trample our enemies.(Y)
6 For I do not trust in my bow,
and my sword does not bring me victory.(Z)
7 But You give us victory over our foes
and let those who hate us be disgraced.(AA)
8 We boast in God all day long;
we will praise Your name forever.(AB)
9 But You have rejected and humiliated us;
You do not march out with our armies.(AC)
10 You make us retreat from the foe,
and those who hate us
have taken plunder for themselves.(AD)
11 You hand us over to be eaten like sheep
and scatter us among the nations.(AE)
12 You sell Your people for nothing;
You make no profit from selling them.(AF)
13 You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors,
a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.(AG)
14 You make us a joke among the nations,
a laughingstock[d] among the peoples.(AH)
15 My disgrace is before me all day long,
and shame has covered my face,(AI)
16 because of the voice of the scorner and reviler,
because of the enemy and avenger.(AJ)
17 All this has happened to us,
but we have not forgotten You
or betrayed Your covenant.(AK)
18 Our hearts have not turned back;
our steps have not strayed from Your path.(AL)
19 But You have crushed us in a haunt of jackals
and have covered us with deepest darkness.(AM)
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
and spread out our hands to a foreign god,(AN)
21 wouldn’t God have found this out,
since He knows the secrets of the heart?(AO)
22 Because of You we are slain all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.(AP)
23 Wake up, Lord! Why are You sleeping?
Get up! Don’t reject us forever!(AQ)
24 Why do You hide Yourself
and forget our affliction and oppression?(AR)
25 For we have sunk down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.(AS)
26 Rise up! Help us!
Redeem us because of Your faithful love.(AT)
Psalm 45
A Royal Wedding Song
For the choir director: according to “The Lilies.”[e] A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song.
1 My heart is moved by a noble theme
as I recite my verses to the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.(AU)
2 You are the most handsome of men;
grace flows from your lips.(AV)
Therefore God has blessed you forever.(AW)
3 Mighty warrior, strap your sword at your side.
In your majesty and splendor(AX)—
4 in your splendor ride triumphantly
in the cause of truth, humility, and justice.
May your right hand show your awe-inspiring acts.(AY)
5 Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies;
the peoples fall under you.(AZ)
6 Your throne,(BA) God, is[f] forever and ever;
the scepter of Your[g] kingdom is a scepter of justice.(BB)
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;(BC)
therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy
more than your companions.
8 Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume all your garments;
from ivory palaces harps bring you joy.(BD)
9 Kings’ daughters are among your honored women;(BE)
the queen, adorned with gold from Ophir,
stands at your right hand.(BF)
10 Listen, daughter, pay attention and consider:
forget your people and your father’s house,(BG)
11 and the king will desire your beauty.
Bow down to him, for he is your lord.(BH)
12 The daughter of Tyre, the wealthy people,
will seek your favor with gifts.(BI)
13 In her chamber, the royal daughter is all glorious,
her clothing embroidered with gold.(BJ)
14 In colorful garments she is led to the king;
after her, the virgins, her companions, are brought to you.(BK)
15 They are led in with gladness and rejoicing;
they enter the king’s palace.(BL)
16 Your sons will succeed your ancestors;
you will make them princes throughout the land.(BM)
17 I will cause your name to be remembered for all generations;
therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever.(BN)
Psalm 46
God Our Refuge
For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.[h](BO)
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.(BP)
2 Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,(BQ)
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with its turmoil.(BR)
4 There is a river—
its streams delight the city of God,
the holy dwelling place of the Most High.(BS)
5 God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns.(BT)
6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple;
the earth melts when He lifts His voice.(BU)
7 The Lord of Hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.(BV)
8 Come, see the works of the Lord,
who brings devastation on the earth.(BW)
9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth.
He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
He burns up the chariots.[i](BX)
10 “Stop your fighting—and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”(BY)
11 Yahweh of Hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.(BZ)
Footnotes
- Psalm 42:6 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read Him, the salvation of His presence. 6 My God, I
- Psalm 43:1 Many Hb mss connect Pss 42–43
- Psalm 44:4 LXX, Syr, Aq; MT reads King, God; ordain
- Psalm 44:14 Lit shaking of the head
- Psalm 45:1 Possibly a tune; Pss 60; 69; 80
- Psalm 45:6 Or Your divine throne is, or Your throne is God’s
- Psalm 45:6 Or your
- Psalm 46:1 This may refer to a high pitch, perhaps a tune sung by soprano voices; the Hb word means “young women.”
- Psalm 46:9 Lit chariots with fire
Psalm 42-46
New International Version
Psalm 42-46
New International Version
BOOK II
Psalms 42–72
Psalm 42[a][b]
For the director of music. A maskil[c] of the Sons of Korah.
1 As the deer(A) pants for streams of water,(B)
so my soul pants(C) for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts(D) for God, for the living God.(E)
When can I go(F) and meet with God?
3 My tears(G) have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”(H)
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:(I)
how I used to go to the house of God(J)
under the protection of the Mighty One[d]
with shouts of joy(K) and praise(L)
among the festive throng.(M)
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?(N)
Why so disturbed(O) within me?
Put your hope in God,(P)
for I will yet praise(Q) him,
my Savior(R) and my God.(S)
6 My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember(T) you
from the land of the Jordan,(U)
the heights of Hermon(V)—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep(W)
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.(X)
8 By day the Lord directs his love,(Y)
at night(Z) his song(AA) is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.(AB)
9 I say to God my Rock,(AC)
“Why have you forgotten(AD) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(AE)
oppressed(AF) by the enemy?”(AG)
10 My bones suffer mortal agony(AH)
as my foes taunt(AI) me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”(AJ)
11 Why, 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.(AK)
Psalm 43[e]
1 Vindicate me, my God,
and plead my cause(AL)
against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me(AM) from those who are
deceitful and wicked.(AN)
2 You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected(AO) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(AP)
oppressed by the enemy?(AQ)
3 Send me your light(AR) and your faithful care,(AS)
let them lead me;(AT)
let them bring me to your holy mountain,(AU)
to the place where you dwell.(AV)
4 Then I will go(AW) to the altar(AX) of God,
to God, my joy(AY) and my delight.(AZ)
I will praise you with the lyre,(BA)
O God, my God.
5 Why, 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.(BB)
Psalm 44[f]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[g]
1 We have heard it with our ears,(BC) O God;
our ancestors have told us(BD)
what you did in their days,
in days long ago.(BE)
2 With your hand you drove out(BF) the nations
and planted(BG) our ancestors;
you crushed(BH) the peoples
and made our ancestors flourish.(BI)
3 It was not by their sword(BJ) that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand,(BK) your arm,(BL)
and the light(BM) of your face, for you loved(BN) them.
4 You are my King(BO) and my God,(BP)
who decrees[h] victories(BQ) for Jacob.
5 Through you we push back(BR) our enemies;
through your name we trample(BS) our foes.
6 I put no trust in my bow,(BT)
my sword does not bring me victory;
7 but you give us victory(BU) over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.(BV)
8 In God we make our boast(BW) all day long,(BX)
and we will praise your name forever.[i](BY)
9 But now you have rejected(BZ) and humbled us;(CA)
you no longer go out with our armies.(CB)
10 You made us retreat(CC) before the enemy,
and our adversaries have plundered(CD) us.
11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep(CE)
and have scattered us among the nations.(CF)
12 You sold your people for a pittance,(CG)
gaining nothing from their sale.
13 You have made us a reproach(CH) to our neighbors,(CI)
the scorn(CJ) and derision(CK) of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword(CL) among the nations;
the peoples shake their heads(CM) at us.
15 I live in disgrace(CN) all day long,
and my face is covered with shame(CO)
16 at the taunts(CP) of those who reproach and revile(CQ) me,
because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.(CR)
17 All this came upon us,
though we had not forgotten(CS) you;
we had not been false to your covenant.
18 Our hearts had not turned(CT) back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.
19 But you crushed(CU) us and made us a haunt for jackals;(CV)
you covered us over with deep darkness.(CW)
20 If we had forgotten(CX) the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,(CY)
21 would not God have discovered it,
since he knows the secrets of the heart?(CZ)
22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep(DA) to be slaughtered.(DB)
23 Awake,(DC) Lord! Why do you sleep?(DD)
Rouse yourself!(DE) Do not reject us forever.(DF)
24 Why do you hide your face(DG)
and forget(DH) our misery and oppression?(DI)
25 We are brought down to the dust;(DJ)
our bodies cling to the ground.
26 Rise up(DK) and help us;
rescue(DL) us because of your unfailing love.(DM)
Psalm 45[j]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[k] A wedding song.(DN)
1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2 You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,(DO)
since God has blessed you forever.(DP)
3 Gird your sword(DQ) on your side, you mighty one;(DR)
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.(DS)
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously(DT)
in the cause of truth, humility and justice;(DU)
let your right hand(DV) achieve awesome deeds.(DW)
5 Let your sharp arrows(DX) pierce the hearts(DY) of the king’s enemies;(DZ)
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God,[l] will last for ever and ever;(EA)
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness(EB) and hate wickedness;(EC)
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing(ED) you with the oil of joy.(EE)
8 All your robes are fragrant(EF) with myrrh(EG) and aloes(EH) and cassia;(EI)
from palaces adorned with ivory(EJ)
the music of the strings(EK) makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings(EL) are among your honored women;
at your right hand(EM) is the royal bride(EN) in gold of Ophir.(EO)
10 Listen, daughter,(EP) and pay careful attention:(EQ)
Forget your people(ER) and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;(ES)
honor(ET) him, for he is your lord.(EU)
12 The city of Tyre(EV) will come with a gift,[m](EW)
people of wealth will seek your favor.
13 All glorious(EX) is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.(EY)
14 In embroidered garments(EZ) she is led to the king;(FA)
her virgin companions(FB) follow her—
those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,(FC)
they enter the palace of the king.
16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes(FD) throughout the land.
17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;(FE)
therefore the nations will praise you(FF) for ever and ever.(FG)
Psalm 46[n]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[o] A song.
1 God is our refuge(FH) and strength,(FI)
an ever-present(FJ) help(FK) in trouble.(FL)
2 Therefore we will not fear,(FM) though the earth give way(FN)
and the mountains fall(FO) into the heart of the sea,(FP)
3 though its waters roar(FQ) and foam(FR)
and the mountains quake(FS) with their surging.[p]
4 There is a river(FT) whose streams(FU) make glad the city of God,(FV)
the holy place where the Most High(FW) dwells.(FX)
5 God is within her,(FY) she will not fall;(FZ)
God will help(GA) her at break of day.
6 Nations(GB) are in uproar,(GC) kingdoms(GD) fall;
he lifts his voice,(GE) the earth melts.(GF)
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,(GK)
the desolations(GL) he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars(GM) cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow(GN) and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[q] with fire.(GO)
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;(GP)
I will be exalted(GQ) among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Footnotes
- Psalm 42:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
- Psalm 42:1 In Hebrew texts 42:1-11 is numbered 42:2-12.
- Psalm 42:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 42:4 See Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
- Psalm 43:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
- Psalm 44:1 In Hebrew texts 44:1-26 is numbered 44:2-27.
- Psalm 44:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 44:4 Septuagint, Aquila and Syriac; Hebrew King, O God; / command
- Psalm 44:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 45:1 In Hebrew texts 45:1-17 is numbered 45:2-18.
- Psalm 45:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 45:6 Here the king is addressed as God’s representative.
- Psalm 45:12 Or A Tyrian robe is among the gifts
- Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
- Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.
- Psalm 46:9 Or chariots
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