The big picture
Psalms 42 opens in verse 1 with “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 6 with “O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land…”, and closes in verse 11 with “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in…” Repeated or prominent terms include soul, praise, countenance, deep, disquieted. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 11Psalms 42:1-6
1–6: As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after…
Psalms 42:1–6 opens with “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” and reaches “O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 42 develops its own movement around soul, praise, countenance, deep, disquieted, with particular weight carried by soul, multitude, panteth.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
Psalms 42:1-6
King James Version1As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
4When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5Why 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.
6O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
Psalms 42:7-11
7–11: Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves…
Psalms 42:7–11 opens with “Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone…” and reaches “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 42 develops its own movement around soul, praise, countenance, deep, disquieted, with particular weight carried by deep, billows, bones.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.” Naming Deep keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 42:7-11
King James Version7Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11Why 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 42:1 begins with “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 42:5 forms a natural hinge: “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.”
The final note
Psalms 42:11 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words soul, praise, countenance, deep, disquieted, gone help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What new information appears about the original betrayal?
The brothers remember Joseph's distress and pleas, which they refused to hear.
Why does the returned money frighten them?
They already fear accusation and divine reckoning; unexplained money makes their position seem more dangerous.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.