Psalms 42

Which worship songs are based on Psalms 42?

  1. more of you — Strings and Heart (2023) Psalms 42:1

    The opening deer-and-water imagery closely reproduces the psalmist's description of an intense longing for God.

  2. Hunger — Gracie Binion (2026) Psalms 42:1-2

    The song's depiction of a longing soul, spiritual thirst, and desire to return to God's presence closely reflects the psalmist's thirst for God and yearning to appear before him.

  3. Hunger (Live) — CeCe Winans (2021) Psalms 42:1-2

    The song describes the soul's unsatisfied longing as physical thirst and directs that appetite specifically toward God and His presence. This closely parallels the psalmist's portrayal of spiritual thirst during a period of distance and desolation.

  4. Holy Water — OBED (2025) Psalms 42:1-2

    The yearning for 'holy water' symbolizes a deep spiritual thirst and desire for God's presence, paralleling the imagery of longing for God as depicted in Psalm 42, where the psalmist expresses a thirst for the living God.

  5. Rest — Aaron Shust (2019) Psalms 42:1-2

    The bridge unmistakably adopts Psalm 42's image of a thirsty deer to express the soul's intense desire for God.

  6. Tears Are Smoke — Bethany Barnard (2021) Psalms 42:3

    The first verse closely reproduces the psalmist's description of tears taking the place of daily nourishment.

  7. Higher Power — Scott Stapp (2023) Psalms 42:3

    The hostile challenge concerning God's absence closely reproduces the recurring taunt directed at the afflicted speaker in Psalm 42. The surrounding anguish and isolation strengthen the connection.

  8. Psalm 42 (I Will Praise Him Again) — CityAlight (2022) Psalms 42:5

    The song closely reproduces the psalmist’s repeated self-address, moving from inner turmoil to deliberate hope in God and the expectation of renewed praise.

  9. All Praise (Live From Passion 2020) — Passion (2020) Psalms 42:5

    The bridge's self-address to a weary, downcast soul unmistakably echoes the repeated refrain of Psalms 42 and 43, where the psalmist confronts discouragement by directing himself toward hope in God.

  10. Meet Me There — Lydia Laird (2020) Psalms 42:5

    The bridge adapts the repeated psalmic refrain in which the worshiper addresses the despair of the soul and turns it toward renewed hope.

  11. All Praise - Live — Sean Curran (2019) Psalms 42:5

    The bridge's self-address concerning a downcast soul unmistakably adapts the recurring refrain of Psalms 42 and 43, where the worshiper challenges despair and redirects the soul toward God.

  12. On the Shores (spontaneous) — Bethel Music (2018) Psalms 42:5-8

    The spontaneous exhortation to command one’s own soul to praise despite absent feelings closely follows the psalmist’s self-address, while the emphasis on praise during the night reinforces the connection.

  13. My Hallelujah - Live — Bethel Music (2025) Psalms 42:7

    The song closely adapts the psalm's distinctive expression of one depth answering another, retaining its imagery of profound, overwhelming communion with God.

  14. Are You Listening — Lacey Sturm (2023) Psalms 42:7

    The chorus directly invokes Psalm 42:7’s depiction of one overwhelming depth answering another. As in the psalm, this image appears within spiritual anguish and an urgent longing for God.

  15. Path of Sorrow — All Sons & Daughters (2016) Psalms 42:7

    The song closely reworks the psalm's distinctive combination of answering depths, roaring waterfalls, and God's overwhelming waves to depict suffering as a flood permitted by God.

  16. Wild River — Phil Wickham (2018) Psalms 42:7

    The song directly reproduces Psalm 42:7's distinctive expression of one depth calling to another, retaining its surrounding water imagery.

Psalms 42 (King James Version)

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

5 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.

6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

11 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.