Psalms 42:2 nasb — My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?

NASB

"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?"

— Psalms 42:2, NASB

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Psalms 42:2 in Other Translations

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Psalms 42 — Context

1

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.

2

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

3

My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

4

These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.

5

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.

Psalms 42:2 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Psalms 42:2 say?
Psalms 42:2 in the NASB reads: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?”
Where is Psalms 42:2 in the Bible?
Psalms 42:2 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Psalms, chapter 42, verse 2.
Who wrote Psalms?
Psalms is traditionally attributed to Multiple authors (David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, others). Approximately 73 psalms are attributed to David; others to Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, Heman, and Ethan; the remainder are anonymous. It was written c. 1410–430 BC.
What is the book of Psalms about?
The Psalms are the prayer book and hymnal of God's people, gathering a thousand years of inspired song — praise, lament, thanksgiving, confession, and royal and messianic worship. Every emotion of the believing heart finds a voice here, and every voice finds its center in Christ.
What are the major themes of Psalms?
Psalms explores themes including Praise, Lament, Trust, Messiah, Refuge, Kingship. These themes shape the meaning and context of Psalms 42:2.
What translation should I read Psalms 42:2 in?
Psalms 42:2 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Psalms 42:2?
Psalms 42:2 reads (NASB): “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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