The Daily RootedHome StoriesGradesChurchesWhat's NewAbout
Bible:
Answer key (separate)‹ Back to chapter 42

Every grade prints starting on a new page. No answers are included.

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!

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Psalms 42 · Kindergarten

Thirsty for God

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace each word with your pencil.

DEER
WATER
HOPE
SONG
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

Psalms 42:2 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each word to its picture.

WATER
TREE
WAVES
HEART

Mini Maze

Help find the way through the maze.

Draw It

Draw a deer drinking from a stream.

Prayer

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

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • What does a thirsty deer want?
  • Who do our hearts need?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Psalms 42 · Grade 1

Hope in God

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace the words and the verse.

THIRST
TEARS
HOPE
PRAISE
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

Psalms 42:2 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each sentence to its picture.

A deer wants water.
My soul thirsts for God.
I went with the crowd to God's house.
Waves swept over me.
Hope in God!

Thirsty for God

Write the number 1 to 4 in each circle to show the right order.

When shall I come and appear before God

Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls

How I used to go with the crowd

Why are you disturbed within me

Draw a deer drinking from a stream.

Memory Verse

“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?”

Psalms 42:2 (WEB)

Prayer

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

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • What did people ask the writer?
  • Where did he go with joy?
  • What would you like to say to God about this chapter?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Psalms 42 · Grade 2

Hope in God

Name Date

Read the Story

The title says this is by the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water, so my soul pants after you, God. The writer was very sad. He cried day and night.

People asked him, Where is your God? He remembered going to God's house with joy. He told himself, Why are you in despair, my soul? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him.

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)

Show What You Know

Circle the right answer, or write it on the lines.

  1. What does the deer pant for?

    Hope in GodWaterGod

  2. What does the writer's soul pant after?

    WaterGodWhere is your God?

  3. What did people ask him?

    Where is your God?God's houseGod

  4. Where did he remember going with joy?

    God's houseWhere is your God?Water

  5. What did he tell his soul to do?

    WaterGod's houseHope in God

Word Search

Find and circle each word. Words go across and down.

TAGTDLMEFIPRAISEOYTHIRSTSFWRTLHRGUPAWEASGGBDGAAHOPEKEFTRHNFIYEBESBGTSERIRRPFSOULI
  • THIRSTS
  • PRAISE
  • WATER
  • TEARS
  • DEER
  • SOUL
  • HOPE
  • SONG

Prayer

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

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • The writer wept and longed for God. Who can you talk to when you feel down for a long time?
  • What is with him at night?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Psalms 42 · Grade 3

My Soul Thirsts for God

Name Date

Read the Story

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 my soul pants after you, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. My tears have been my food day and night. People keep asking, Where is your God?

He remembers how he used to lead the crowd to God's house with joy and praise. Then he speaks to himself: Why are you in despair, my soul? Hope in God! Yahweh will command his loving kindness in the daytime. In the night his song shall be with me.

Memory Verse

“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?”

Psalms 42:2 (WEB)

Answer the Questions

  1. Whose name is in the title of this psalm?

  2. What have his tears been?

  3. Who did he use to lead to God's house?

  4. What will Yahweh command in the daytime?

  5. What shall be with him in the night?

Thirsty for God

Write what happened in each box.

1
2
3
4

Word Search

Find each word. Words go across, down, and diagonally.

MWTLPFKUNUKASSONGMANTTOHOPEBNTHEUCABIKAEIRLAIBYYCARRLNNDEERRSGKMIPVPOSTIPRAISEYAS
  • THIRSTS
  • PRAISE
  • WATER
  • TEARS
  • DEER
  • SOUL
  • HOPE
  • SONG

Prayer

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

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • What does pant mean?
  • The writer told his soul to hope in God. How can you hope in God when you are sad?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

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

  1. What does pant mean?

  2. What did people ask to mock him?

  3. What does he tell his soul?

  4. 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
  1. The writer feels far from .
  2. As the pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God.
  3. Twice he speaks to his own : Why are you in despair, my soul?
  4. in God!
  5. For I shall still him.

Think About It

  1. The writer told his own soul to hope in God. What true thing about God can you tell yourself when you feel sad?

  2. 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?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

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

  1. What question does the writer ask about appearing before God?

  2. What does the writer ask God, his rock?

  3. What does the refrain tell his soul to do?

  4. In the New Testament, what does Jesus promise those who come to him?

Crossword

42531

Across

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

Down

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

Think About It

  1. The writer both asked God hard questions and told himself to hope. How can you be honest with God and still trust him?

  2. 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?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.