New International Version 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. New Living Translation 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! English Standard Version 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. Berean Standard Bible Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Berean Literal Bible Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in commotion within me? Wait for God, for still I will praise Him, the salvation of my face, and my God. King James Bible 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. New King James Version 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. New American Standard Bible 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. NASB 1995 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. NASB 1977 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance, and my God. Legacy Standard Bible Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Wait for God, for I shall still praise Him, The salvation of my presence and my God. Amplified Bible Why are you in despair, O my soul? Why have you become restless and disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Berean Annotated Bible Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God {Elohim}, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Christian Standard Bible 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. Holman Christian Standard Bible 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. American Standard Version 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 help of my countenance, and my God. Contemporary English Version Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I trust you, LORD! And I will praise you again because you help me, and you are my God. English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God. Good News Translation Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled? I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise him, my savior and my God. International Standard Version Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for once again I will praise him, since his presence saves me and he is my God. NET Bible Why 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. New Heart English Bible Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God. For I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God. Webster's Bible Translation 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhy are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. World English Bible Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him, the saving help of my countenance, and my God. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhy bow yourself, O my soul? And why are you troubled within me? Wait for God, for I still confess Him, "" The salvation of my countenance, and my God! Berean Literal Bible Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in commotion within me? Wait for God, for still I will praise Him, the salvation of my face, and my God. Young's Literal Translation What! bowest thou thyself, O my soul? And what! art thou troubled within me? Wait for God, for still I confess Him, The salvation of my countenance, and my God! Smith's Literal Translation Why wilt thou be bowed down, O my soul? and why wilt thou be disturbed upon me? Hope upon God, for yet shall I praise him, the salvation of my face and my God. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhy art thou cast down, O my soul? and why dost thou disquiet me? Hope thou in God, for I will still give praise to him : the salvation of my countenance, and my God. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Why are you downcast, my soul, why do you groan within me? Wait for God, for I shall again praise him, my savior and my God. New Revised Standard Version Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWhy are you disturbed, O my soul? and why are you bewildered? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise him, the Saviour of my honor and my God. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Why have you agitated me, my soul? And why have you perplexed me? Look for God, because I shall again praise him, The Savior of my entire being, and my God. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why moanest thou within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him, The salvation of my countenance, and my God. Brenton Septuagint Translation Wherefore art thou very sad, O my soul? and wherefore dost thou trouble me? hope in God; for I will give thanks to him; he is the health of my countenance, and my God. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Blessed is He who Cares for the Poor…10Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Cross References Why are you downcast, O my soul? Psalm 43:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Lamentations 3:20-21 Surely my soul remembers and is humbled within me. / Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: Psalm 103:1-2 Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name. / Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds— Why the unease within me? Psalm 94:19 When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. / And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Put your hope in God, Psalm 62:5 Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him. 1 Peter 1:21 Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him; and so your faith and hope are in God. Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. for I will yet praise Him, Psalm 71:14 But I will always hope and will praise You more and more. Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, / yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. my Savior and my God. Titus 2:13 as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. John 20:28 Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” Isaiah 43:11 I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no Savior but Me. Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Treasury of Scripture Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? hope you in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. cast down Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Psalm 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. the health Jeremiah 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after. Jeremiah 33:6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Jump to Previous Bowest Cast Confess Countenance Crushed Despair Disquieted Disturbed Health Help Hope Moanest Praise Salvation Saving Savior Soul Thyself Troubled WithinJump to Next Bowest Cast Confess Countenance Crushed Despair Disquieted Disturbed Health Help Hope Moanest Praise Salvation Saving Savior Soul Thyself Troubled WithinPsalm 42 1. David's zeal to serve God in the temple5. He encourages his soul to trust in God Why are you downcast, O my soul? The psalmist confronts his own despair before God. Though Psalm 42 is attributed to the sons of Korah, its setting reflects the anguish of one separated from public worship and longing for God’s presence. Psa 43:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me?… Why the unease within me? Grief, opposition, and the taunts of unbelievers have unsettled him, yet he does not conceal his distress. His inward struggle is brought honestly into the presence of God. Psa 94:19 When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation… Put your hope in God, He commands his soul to rest in the Lord rather than yield to present sorrow. God’s covenant faithfulness remains unchanged even when His help seems delayed. Psa 62:5 Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him. for I will yet praise Him, Present affliction will not have the final word. The psalmist expects God to restore him and give him cause to worship again. Psa 71:14 But I will always hope and will praise You more and more. my Savior and my God. God is personally known as the One who delivers His people and rules over all circumstances. The confession joins personal dependence with confidence in God’s sovereign power. Tit 2:13 as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance… Persons / Places / Events 1. The PsalmistTraditionally attributed to the sons of Korah, the psalmist expresses deep emotional turmoil and a longing for God's presence. 2. God Referred to as the psalmist's Savior and God, highlighting a personal relationship and trust in divine deliverance. 3. The Soul Represents the inner self of the psalmist, experiencing distress and seeking solace in God. Teaching Points Understanding Emotional TurmoilRecognize that feeling downcast or uneasy is a common human experience, even for those with strong faith. Hope as an Anchor Emphasize the importance of placing hope in God as a stabilizing force during times of distress. The Power of Praise Highlight the transformative power of praising God, even when circumstances are challenging. Personal Relationship with God Encourage cultivating a personal relationship with God, as the psalmist refers to God as "my Savior and my God." Self-Reflection and Dialogue Practice self-reflection and dialogue with one's soul, as the psalmist does, to realign focus on God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 42:11?2. How can Psalm 42:11 inspire hope during personal trials and tribulations? 3. What does "put your hope in God" mean for daily Christian living? 4. How does Psalm 42:11 connect with Philippians 4:6-7 on handling anxiety? 5. In what ways can praising God transform our perspective in difficult times? 6. How can Psalm 42:11 encourage trust in God's faithfulness and sovereignty? 7. What does Psalm 42:11 reveal about the nature of hope in God during despair? 8. How does Psalm 42:11 address the struggle between faith and emotional turmoil? 9. What historical context influenced the writing of Psalm 42:11? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 42? Verse 11. - Why art thou cast down (or, bowed down), O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me! hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him. Thus far is identical with ver. 5; but what follows is slightly different: who is the health of my countenance, and my God, instead of "for the help (health?) of his countenance." Most commentators assimilate the text in ver. 5 to that of the present verse, which can be effected by a mere alteration of the pointing; but Hengstenberg, Kay, Professor Alexander, and others regard the variant forms as preferable.
Psalm 42:11 models a faithful response to discouragement: acknowledge the heaviness, confront the unrest, choose hope in God, anticipate praise, and reaffirm that He is personally our Savior and God. Such deliberate, Scripture-rooted self-talk turns the soul from downward spiral to upward worship. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whyמַה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what are you downcast, תִּשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י ׀ (tiš·tō·w·ḥă·ḥî) Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 7817: To bow, be bowed down, crouch O my soul? נַפְשִׁי֮ (nap̄·šî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion Why וּֽמַה־ (ū·mah-) Conjunctive waw | Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what the unease תֶּהֱמִ֪י (te·hĕ·mî) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 1993: To make a, loud sound, commotion, tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor within me? עָ֫לָ֥י (‘ā·lāy) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against Put your hope הוֹחִ֣ילִי (hō·w·ḥî·lî) Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular Strong's 3176: To wait, to be patient, hope in God, לֵֽ֭אלֹהִים (lê·lō·hîm) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative for כִּי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction I shall yet ע֣וֹד (‘ō·wḏ) Adverb Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more praise Him, אוֹדֶ֑נּוּ (’ō·w·ḏen·nū) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 3034: To throw, at, away, to revere, worship, to bemoan my Savior יְשׁוּעֹ֥ת (yə·šū·‘ōṯ) Noun - feminine plural construct Strong's 3444: Something saved, deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity and my God. וֵֽאלֹהָֽי׃ (wê·lō·hāy) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative Additonal Resources Psalm 42:11 Blue Letter BiblePsalm 42:11 Bible Gateway Psalm 42:11 Bible.com Psalm 42:11 NIV |
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