Psalms 42:5

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses his own soul in the second person, a device of self-counsel amid despair. He is away from the temple (cf. 42:4, 6), likely in exile or displacement from Jerusalem.

The words — תִּשְׁתּוֹחָחִי (tish'tochachi, H7817) is a vivid image of being bowed down, physically collapsed under weight. הוֹחִילִי (hochili, H3176) is the imperative "wait," the hinge that turns the verse from complaint to command.

The thread — The "wait on God" command recurs in Psalms 37:7 and is echoed in Hebrews 10:36's call to persevere. The identical self-address appears again in Psalms 43:5, the psalm's closing refrain.

Why it lands — It does not promise relief; it demands the reader stop negotiating with their own despair and commit to praise before the situation resolves. The burden is on the speaker, not on God.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

מַה־mah-why?תִּשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י׀tish.To.cha.Chiare you bowed down נַפְשִׁי֮naf.Sh/iO soul/ my וַתֶּהֱמִ֪יva./te.he.Miand/ were you in turmoil?עָ֫לָ֥י'a.La/ion/ me הוֹחִ֣ילִיho.Chi.liwait לֵֽ֭אלֹהִיםLe./lo.himfor/ God כִּי־ki-for ע֥וֹדodagain אוֹדֶ֗נּוּ'o.De./nuI will give thanks to/ him יְשׁוּע֥וֹתye.shu.'ot[the] salvation<s> of פָּנָֽיו׃pa.Na/vpresence/ his

King James Version

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Cross-references

Psalms 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
Hebrews 10:36 You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
Psalms 61:2 From the ends of the earth I call out to You whenever my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).
Psalms 27:13 Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Psalms 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
Lamentations 3:24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”
Psalms 43:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
Psalms 42:11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
Numbers 6:26 may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’