Psalms 42:1
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God.
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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”.

Authorship & Historical Background

Psalms was received under the name of David and additional composers. In current research on Psalms, Temple hymnal compiled from many collections and voices.. Scholars commonly date Psalms Assembled across monarchic and post‑exilic eras.. Here the thread of wisdom & worship comes into view. Psalm headings and sequencing hint at editorial artistry.

More details
Traditional:David & others
Modern scholarship:Temple hymnbook with multiple collections and authors.
Date:Monarchy to post‑exilic.
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