Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses their own soul immediately after vowing to approach the altar of God and praise Him with the harp. The speaker uses self-questioning to confront present discouragement while anticipating future worship.
The words — The Hebrew תִּשְׁתּוֹחֲחִ֨י (tish.To.cha.Chi) translates literally to "are you bowed down," and הוֹחִ֣ילִי (ho.Chi.li) commands "wait" or "put your hope."
The thread — This identical self-address appears verbatim in Psalms 42:5 and Psalms 42:11 as a recurring structural refrain.
Why it lands — The text commands the reader to name inner turmoil and deliberately shift focus to God as the source of future praise. It requires acknowledging despair before acting on the promise of restoration.
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
King James Version
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 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.