Psalm 42:11 in Context
Psalm 42:11 read in its full chapter context. See the verses before and after, plus historical setting and flow of thought.
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."
— Psalm 42:11 (KJV)
Where This Verse Sits
Psalm 42:11 appears in Psalms chapter 42, verse 11. The Sons of Korah wrote this psalm, likely during exile from Jerusalem—possibly during Absalom's rebellion or the Babylonian exile. The psalmist is separated from the temple and God's people, intensifying his despair. His technique of preaching truth to his own soul became a model for dealing with spiritual depression.
The Verse Itself
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."
— Psalm 42:11 (KJV)
Flow of the Passage
To grasp Psalm 42:11 fully, read it inside the surrounding paragraph. The verses before set up the argument, and the verses after show its outworking. Psalms 42 as a whole carries forward the theme of depression, and this single verse is one beat in that larger movement.
The psalmist speaks to his own soul in the midst of despair, commanding himself to hope in God. Even in darkness, he anticipates future praise.
Cross-References
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