Psalms 42: As the Deer Pants for the Water

The title says this is For the Chief Musician, a contemplation by the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so the writer's soul pants after God. He is sad, and people keep asking him, Where is your God? He remembers leading crowds to God's house with joy. He talks to his own soul: Why are you in despair, my soul? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him. Even when waves of trouble sweep over him, Yahweh's loving kindness is with him by day and his song by night.

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World English Bible · 11 verses

¹ For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, how I used to go with the crowd, and led them to God’s house, with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a holy day.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ My God, my soul is in despair within me. Therefore I remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon, from the hill Mizar.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls. All your waves and your billows have swept over me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Yahweh will command his loving kindness in the daytime. In the night his song shall be with me: a prayer to the God of my life.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ I will ask God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries reproach me, while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Psalms 42 · Preschool

Thirsty for God

Name Date

Color the water. A thirsty deer wants water. We need God!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence.”

Psalms 42:5 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Sometimes we feel sad. The writer told himself, Hope in God! Our hearts need God like a deer needs water. Let's say together, I will hope in God!

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Psalms 42 · Grade 4

Talking to Your Soul

Name Date

Read and Think

Psalm 42's title says it is For the Chief Musician, a contemplation by the sons of Korah. The writer feels far from God. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God. To pant is to breathe hard, like a thirsty animal. He cries day and night, and people mock him: Where is your God? He remembers better days, when he led the crowd to God's house with the voice of joy and praise.

Twice he speaks to his own soul: Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him. He does not pretend he is fine. He tells his feelings the truth about God. All your waves and your billows have swept over me, he says, yet Yahweh will command his loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me. In the New Testament, Jesus says, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink (John 7:37).

Show What You Know

What does pant mean?
What did people ask to mock him?
What does he tell his soul?
In the New Testament, what does Jesus invite the thirsty to do?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

deerGodHopesoulpraise

The writer feels far from .
As the pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God.
Twice he speaks to his own : Why are you in despair, my soul?
in God!
For I shall still him.

Think About It

The writer told his own soul to hope in God. What true thing about God can you tell yourself when you feel sad?
How is wanting God like being thirsty? What helps you draw near to God?

Memory Verse

“Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence.”

Psalms 42:5 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being my hope. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

When do you long to be close to God?
The writer remembered God from far-off places. How can remembering God help you when you feel far from church?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Psalms 42 · Grade 5

Why Are You in Despair, My Soul?

Name Date

Read and Think

Psalm 42's title says it is For the Chief Musician, a contemplation by the sons of Korah. It is the honest prayer of someone who longs for God but feels far away. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? His tears have been his food day and night, while people continually ask him, Where is your God?

Memory makes it harder and better. He remembers how he used to go with the crowd and led them to God's house, with the voice of joy and praise. Now he seems to be far away, remembering God from the land of the Jordan and the heights of Hermon. He says, Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls. All your waves and your billows have swept over me. He even asks God, my rock, Why have you forgotten me?

Yet the psalm keeps returning to a refrain. 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. Instead of only listening to his feelings, he preaches to himself. In the middle of his sorrow he says, Yahweh will command his loving kindness in the daytime. In the night his song shall be with me: a prayer to the God of my life. In the New Testament, Jesus promises living water to those who come to him (John 4:14).

Show What You Know

What question does the writer ask about appearing before God?
What does the writer ask God, his rock?
What does the refrain tell his soul to do?
In the New Testament, what does Jesus promise those who come to him?

Crossword

Across

As the deer pants for the ____ brooks.
As the ____ pants for the water brooks.
And pour out my ____ within me.

Down

My soul ____ for God.
My ____ have been my food day and night.

Think About It

The writer both asked God hard questions and told himself to hope. How can you be honest with God and still trust him?
Instead of only listening to his feelings, he spoke truth to himself. What Bible truth could you speak to yourself on a hard day?

Memory Verse

“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.”

Psalms 42:11 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being my hope. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

The writer felt God's waves and breakers had gone over him. How can you trust God when sorrow feels overwhelming?
When do you feel a deep longing for God?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Psalms 42: As the Deer Pants for the Water

Read Psalms 42

Worksheets

Thirsty for God

Prayer

Take It Home

Thirsty for God

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Hope in God

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Thirsty for God

Prayer

Take It Home

Hope in God

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

My Soul Thirsts for God

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Thirsty for God

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Talking to Your Soul

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Why Are You in Despair, My Soul?

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options