Psalm 42:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

NIV: 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.

NASB: Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him For the help of His presence, my God.

CSB: Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.

NLT: Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!

KJV: Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

NKJV: Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Prior verses expressed the psalmist's frustration and temptation to despair (Psalm 42:9–10). Here, the message returns to a hopeful tone (Psalm 42:8). The first part of this verse is rhetorical: it makes a positive statement, despite being framed as a question. This repeats an earlier verse (Psalm 42:5). In both instances, the point is that the psalmist should not be crushed or in anguish. The writer realizes the Lord is his salvation and his God. By calling God his salvation, he acknowledges Him as his deliverer. He does not dwell on present difficulties but on future deliverance.

The ultimate answer to these experiences is the only firm optimism that is reasonable: to "hope in God." The psalmist looks forward to the time when he will join God's people in praising Him in the temple at Jerusalem (Psalm 42:5). Believers today may experience physical pain and emotional sorrow as the psalmist did, but they possess a firm hope of being free of all their trouble. Someday, they will join the host of heaven in praising the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:8–14). Until then, believers are on a pilgrimage, not a picnic, and Jesus is with them every step of the way (Hebrews 13:5–6).

Psalm 42:6–11 describes the psalmist's intense dejection, but he acknowledges the Lord's power to control the storms of life. He views God as the God of his life and his Rock, and he tells his troubled soul again to hope in God and be assured that he will praise God again as his deliverer and his God.

The psalmist begins and ends with hope and dependence on God. His desire for God is like thirst: a vital need, not simply a minor emotion. Enemy attacks, mocking, or grief over being far from home should not override trust in God's goodness. Hardship naturally tempts us to become bitter and defeatist; instead, we should look forward to praising God as our Savior.

Psalms 1 through 41 are considered the first "book" of psalms. Psalm 42 is the first of "Book 2." Because of its similarity to Psalm 43, it is thought that both psalms were originally one psalm, but there is no explanation for why they were separated. This "maskil" has a similar tone to Psalms 32, 52, and 89. It is associated with the "Sons of Korah," likely a group tied to worship during the era of David and Solomon.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.