Psalms 42:2 net — I thirst for God, for the living God. I say,“When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?”

NET Bible

"I thirst for God, for the living God. I say,“When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?”"

— Psalms 42:2, NET Bible

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Psalms 42:2 in Other Translations

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Psalms 42 — Context

1

Book 2(Psalms 42-72) For the music director; a well-written song by the Korahites. As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God!

2

I thirst for God, for the living God. I say,“When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?”

3

I cannot eat, I weep day and night; all day long they say to me,“Where is your God?”

4

I will remember and weep! For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God, shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival.

5

Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.

Psalms 42:2 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Psalms 42:2 say?
Psalms 42:2 in the NET Bible reads: “I thirst for God, for the living God. I say,“When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?””
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 (NET): “I thirst for God, for the living God. I say,“When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?”” 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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