Psalms 42:1
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God.
Interpretation
Psalms 42:1 shows a thirst for god that takes shape in planning and improvising—listen for "pants" and "deer". Practice thirst for god by steady, quiet faithfulness—make patience ordinary. Wisdom & Worship connects here: Poetry and wisdom teach reverent, honest life before God—through praise, lament, and reflection.
Context
In Psalms (Poetry/Wisdom), highlighting thirst for god. Within ch. 42, a small unit frames the emphasis. It edges toward wisdom & worship. Watch the terms “pants” and “deer”.
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
In the Masoretic tradition the Hebrew text is preserved, standardized between the 6th–10th centuries CE. The Dead Sea Scrolls (1947-1956 discoveries) provide manuscripts 1000+ years older than medieval texts, generally confirming the Masoretic Text's reliability with only minor variations. The Septuagint (Greek translation, 3rd-2nd century BCE) offers an independent textual witness. Variations between manuscripts are typically minor: spelling differences, word order, or clarifications that leave the overall message intact. Modern translations compare all available manuscripts to reconstruct the most likely original text.
Sources & witness notes
MT