Bible Verses About Depression: "Why, My Soul, Are You Downcast?" (Psalm 42)
Psalms 42:1-11 · Berean Standard Bible
Psalm 42 is the Bible's clearest picture of depression: the psalmist feels far from God, cries day and night, and asks his own soul, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?" Rather than shaming the feeling, he speaks honestly to God about it and then preaches hope back to himself: "Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him." This is the passage to turn to when faith and sadness are living in the same heart at the same time.
1As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.
2My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?
3My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”
4These things come to mind as I pour out my soul: how I walked with the multitude, leading the festive procession to the house of God with shouts of joy and praise.
5Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence.
6O my God, my soul despairs within me. Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon—even from Mount Mizar.
7Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me.
8The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day, and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life.
9I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”
10Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
Read the wider context: Psalms 42.
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- "Weeping May Stay for the Night, but Joy Comes in the Morning" (Psalm 30) — Psalms 30:4-12
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