Psalm 41
The Thirsting Soul
The psalmist expresses a deep, desperate longing for the presence of God amidst the mockery of others.
Just as a deer longs for a spring, so my soul thirsts for you, O Lord God. My soul thirsts for my God alone. When will I come and stand in your presence? My tears have been my food—I say this openly—as they mocked me and asked, “Where is your God now?” When this came to mind, I poured out my whole soul, for I longed to journey with the crowd to the place where God's honor is proclaimed, as when a festival is celebrated with joy; my desire is to praise the Lord with songs of devotion.
Hope Amidst Sorrow
The psalmist questions their own grief and resolves to place their hope in the Lord's salvation.
My soul, why do you choose to be sorrowful? What drives you to trouble my heart so deeply? Let your hope rise to the Lord. I will praise him and always be thankful, for he is forever the salvation before my face. His name is wonderfully powerful; he truly is my God and my Father.1
Deep Calls to Deep
The psalmist recounts past faithfulness while feeling overwhelmed by present waves of sorrow, seeking God's protection.
My soul is wasting away with sorrow; therefore, Lord God, I will tell of your works. From Mount Hermon I will remember you and all that you have shown us by the Jordan. Deep calls to deep—hear its cry. Your waves have swept over me. O Lord, my Father, keep me safe. God has commanded me to praise his grace here every day; and when I lie hidden in sorrow at night, to sing him a song of fitting words. I’ll pray to him with all urgency: Lord, protect me. Sorrow has overwhelmed me; you are my deliverer—receive me.
A Final Call to Trust
Despite feeling forgotten and physically broken, the psalmist concludes by choosing to trust and praise God.
Why have you forgotten me so completely? Such a bitter fate has fallen to me: my bones are painfully crushed, and the wicked take me for a fool.2 They mock me by asking, “Where is your God?” O soul, why are you grieving like this? Trust in God; I will praise him forever.3
Read the original Latin
REcht als een hert langt nae een fonteyne So dor stet mijn siele o Heere God na dy Tot minen God dorst mijn siel alleyne Wanneer soe sal ic comen v tegenwoerdich bij Mijn tranen waren een spijs voer my Dat seg ic vry Als sy haer spot met mi bedreuen Sij spraken, waer is nv dijn God ghebleuen?
Wanneer mi dit quam in mijn ghedachten Doen heb ick mijn siele gansselijck wt gheleyt Want ick gaern sou met ghelijcker vrachten Gaen varen ter plecken daermen gods eer verbreyt Recht alsmen eenich feest bereyt Doer vrolijckheyt En met deuotelijcke sanghen Den Heere te louen, is mijn verlanghen.
Mijn siel waer om wilt ghi truerich wesen? Wat pordt v dus seere te stooren therte mijn? V hoep laet zijn tot den Heere gheresen Ick sal hem beliden, end altijt dancbaer zijn Die salicheyt tot allen termijn Van mijn aenschijn Sijn naem is wonderlijcken crachtich Mijn God, en mijn vader is hi warachtich.
Mijn siel wil mi doer die droefheyt crencken Daer om wil ic v wercken o Heere God verslaen Van Hermons berch so wil ic ws ghedencken Al dat ghi ons bewesen hebt bi die Iordaen Die diepte roept die diepte aen Hoort dit vermaen My oueruallen uwe vloeden Och Heere mijn vader, wilt mi behoeden.
Op sulcken dach heeft my God beuolen Dat ick zijn ghenaden altijt hier prisen moet Ende als ick snachts ligghe droeflijck verholen Dat ic hem sou singhen een liet, van woerden goet Ick sal hem bidden met allen spoet Heere my behoet Die droefheyt heeft my seer beuanghen Ghi zijt mijn verlosser, wilt my ontfanghen.
Waer om hebt ghi mi so heel vergheten? Dat my is toe gheuallen een also swaren lot Als mijn ghebeent wort droeflijc ghesmeten End als my die boose houden voer een sot. Als sij my vraghen doer haren spot Waer is v Godt? O siel waer om wilt ghi dus trueren? Betroudt: ick sal hem louen tot allen vren.
Notes
- 1 ↩The compact wording literally presents the Lord as the enduring “salvation of my face”; the rendering preserves the source's bodily image while clarifying its syntax.
- 2 ↩Literally, “my bones are sorrowfully struck/crushed,” preserving the psalm’s bodily image of anguish.
- 3 ↩The imperative has no explicit object in this line; “in God” is supplied from the psalm’s refrain and immediate context.
Souterliedekens (Psalm Songs) companion
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