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Psalm 42 in Hebrew and English

12 verses, about 1 minute to read aloud. The Hebrew has its vowel points and the English stands under each verse.

The text of the psalm

לַמְנַצֵּחַ מַשְׂכִּיל לִבְנֵי־קֹֽרַח׃

For the Leader; Maschil of the sons of Korah.

כְּאַיָּל תַּעֲרֹג עַל־אֲפִיקֵי־מָיִם כֵּן נַפְשִׁי תַעֲרֹג אֵלֶיךָ אֱלֹהִֽים׃

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.

צָמְאָה נַפְשִׁי לֵאלֹהִים לְאֵל חָי מָתַי אָבוֹא וְאֵרָאֶה פְּנֵי אֱלֹהִֽים׃

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: 'When shall I come and appear before God?'

הָיְתָה־לִּי דִמְעָתִי לֶחֶם יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה בֶּאֱמֹר אֵלַי כָּל־הַיּוֹם אַיֵּה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

My tears have been my food day and night, while they say unto me all the day: 'Where is Thy God?'

אֵלֶּה אֶזְכְּרָה וְאֶשְׁפְּכָה עָלַי נַפְשִׁי כִּי אֶעֱבֹר בַּסָּךְ אֶדַּדֵּם עַד־בֵּית אֱלֹהִים בְּקוֹל־רִנָּה וְתוֹדָה הָמוֹן חוֹגֵֽג׃

These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, how I passed on with the throng, and led them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping holyday.

מַה־תִּשְׁתּוֹחֲחִי נַפְשִׁי וַתֶּהֱמִי עָלָי הוֹחִילִי לֵאלֹהִים כִּי־עוֹד אוֹדֶנּוּ יְשׁוּעוֹת פָּנָֽיו׃

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why moanest thou within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him for the salvation of His countenance.

אֱלֹהַי עָלַי נַפְשִׁי תִשְׁתּוֹחָח עַל־כֵּן אֶזְכָּרְךָ מֵאֶרֶץ יַרְדֵּן וְחֶרְמוֹנִים מֵהַר מִצְעָֽר׃

O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore do I remember Thee from the land of Jordan, and the Hermons, from the hill Mizar.

תְּהוֹם־אֶל־תְּהוֹם קוֹרֵא לְקוֹל צִנּוֹרֶיךָ כָּל־מִשְׁבָּרֶיךָ וְגַלֶּיךָ עָלַי עָבָֽרוּ׃

Deep calleth unto deep at the voice of Thy cataracts; all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me.

יוֹמָם יְצַוֶּה יְהוָה חַסְדּוֹ וּבַלַּיְלָה שִׁירוֹ עִמִּי תְּפִלָּה לְאֵל חַיָּֽי׃

By day the LORD will command His lovingkindness, and in the night His song shall be with me, even a prayer unto the God of my life.

אוֹמְרָה לְאֵל סַלְעִי לָמָה שְׁכַחְתָּנִי לָמָּה־קֹדֵר אֵלֵךְ בְּלַחַץ אוֹיֵֽב׃

I will say unto God my Rock: 'Why hast Thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning under the oppression of the enemy?'

בְּרֶצַח בְּעַצְמוֹתַי חֵרְפוּנִי צוֹרְרָי בְּאָמְרָם אֵלַי כָּל־הַיּוֹם אַיֵּה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

As with a crushing in my bones, mine adversaries taunt me; while they say unto me all the day: 'Where is Thy God?'

מַה־תִּשְׁתּוֹחֲחִי נַפְשִׁי וּמַה־תֶּהֱמִי עָלָי הוֹחִילִי לֵאלֹהִים כִּי־עוֹד אוֹדֶנּוּ יְשׁוּעֹת פָּנַי וֵֽאלֹהָֽי׃

Why 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.

The Hebrew is the Leningrad Codex, compared with a second edition letter by letter. The English is the Jewish Publication Society translation of 1917, in the public domain.

Where this psalm is read

  • The second of the five books of Psalms
  • Read in the monthly cycle on day 7 of the Hebrew month
  • Read in the weekly cycle on Monday
  • Part of the Tikkun HaKlali
  • Its heading names the sons of Korah
  • 12 verses, 132 words, about 1 minute to read

Psalms that are read with this one

All 150 psalms and today's reading·Prayers by the time they are said

Questions about this psalm

How many verses does Psalm 42 have?

Psalm 42 has 12 verses and 132 words.

On which day is Psalm 42 read in the monthly and weekly cycles?

In the monthly cycle it is read on day 7 of the Hebrew month, and in the weekly cycle on Monday.

Whose name is in the heading of Psalm 42?

The heading names the sons of Korah.

How long does it take to read Psalm 42?

About 1 minute, at a steady pace.