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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 42:3 My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, "Where is your God?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/42-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/19_Psa_042_003.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 42:3 - Blessed is He who Cares for the Poor" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, Where is your God?" /><script type="application/javascript" 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href="/bsb/psalms/42.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/42.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, &#8220Where is your God?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/42.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/42.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/42.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/42.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where <i>is</i> thy God?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/42.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where <i>is</i> your God?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/42.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, While <i>they</i> say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/42.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, &#8220Where is your God?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/42.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, While <i>they</i> say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/42.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, While <i>they</i> say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/42.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/42.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, “Where is your God? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/42.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me,&#8221 Where is your God?&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/42.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/42.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Day and night my tears are my only food, as everyone keeps asking, "Where is your God?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/42.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/42.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />My tears are my food day and night. People ask me all day long, "Where is your God?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/42.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Day and night I cry, and tears are my only food; all the time my enemies ask me, "Where is your God?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/42.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, while people keep asking me all day long, "Where is your God?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/42.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, ?Where is your God??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/42.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />I cannot eat, I weep day and night; all day long they say to me, "Where is your God?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/42.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually ask me, "Where is your God?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/42.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, Where is thy God?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/42.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/42.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />My tear has been bread day and night to me, "" In their saying to me all the day, “Where [is] your God?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/42.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> My tear hath been to me bread day and night, In their saying unto me all the day, 'Where is thy God?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/42.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />My tears were to me bread day and night, in saying to me all the days, Where is thy God?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/42.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />My tears have been any bread day and night, whilst it is said to me daily : Where is thy God? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/42.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 41:4>My tears have been my bread, day and night. Meanwhile, it is said to me daily: “Where is your God?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/42.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />My tears have been my bread day and night, as they ask me every day, “Where is your God?” <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/42.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/42.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />My tears have been my bread day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is your God?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/42.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />My tears have been food for me by day and by night, while they have been saying to me every day, "Where is your God?"<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/42.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />My tears have been my food day and night, While they say unto me all the day: 'Where is Thy God?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/42.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />My tears have been bread to me day and night, while they daily said to me, Where is thy God?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/42-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=4969" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/42.htm">Blessed is He who Cares for the Poor</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence? <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1832.htm" title="1832: ḏim·‘ā·ṯî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Tears (of one weeping). Feminine of dema'; weeping.">My tears</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: hā·yə·ṯāh- (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">have been</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">my</a> <a href="/hebrew/3899.htm" title="3899: le·ḥem (N-ms) -- Bread, food. From lacham; food, especially bread, or grain.">food</a> <a href="/hebrew/3119.htm" title="3119: yō·w·mām (Adv) -- Daytime, by day. From yowm; daily.">both day</a> <a href="/hebrew/3915.htm" title="3915: wā·lā·yə·lāh (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Night. Or leyl; also laylah; from the same as luwl; properly, a twist, i.e. Night; figuratively, adversity.">and night,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: be·’ĕ·mōr (Prep-b:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">while men ask</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·lay (Prep:: 1cs) -- To, into, towards. ">me</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">all day long,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: hay·yō·wm (Art:: N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative."></a> <a href="/hebrew/346.htm" title="346: ’ay·yêh (Interrog) -- Where?. Prolonged from 'ay; where?.">“Where</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">is your God?”</a> </span><span class="reftext">4</span>These things come to mind as I pour out my soul: how I walked with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God with shouts of joy and praise.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-4.htm">Matthew 5:4</a></span><br />Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/7-17.htm">Revelation 7:17</a></span><br />For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/16-20.htm">John 16:20</a></span><br />Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/1-4.htm">2 Corinthians 1:4</a></span><br />who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-21.htm">Luke 6:21</a></span><br />Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/21-4.htm">Revelation 21:4</a></span><br />‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/11-33.htm">John 11:33-35</a></span><br />When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. / “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered. / Jesus wept.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/7-10.htm">2 Corinthians 7:10</a></span><br />Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-15.htm">Romans 12:15</a></span><br />Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-9.htm">James 4:9</a></span><br />Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/25-8.htm">Isaiah 25:8</a></span><br />He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/9-1.htm">Jeremiah 9:1</a></span><br />Oh, that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night over the slain daughter of my people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/1-16.htm">Lamentations 1:16</a></span><br />For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears. For there is no one nearby to comfort me, no one to revive my soul. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/16-20.htm">Job 16:20</a></span><br />My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/14-17.htm">Jeremiah 14:17</a></span><br />You are to speak this word to them: ‘My eyes overflow with tears; day and night they do not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people has been shattered by a crushing blow, a severely grievous wound.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say to me, Where is your God?</p><p class="hdg">tears</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/80-5.htm">Psalm 80:5</a></b></br> Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/102-9.htm">Psalm 102:9</a></b></br> For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/16-12.htm">2 Samuel 16:12</a></b></br> It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.</p><p class="hdg">while</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/42-10.htm">Psalm 42:10</a></b></br> <i>As</i> with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where <i>is</i> thy God?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/3-2.htm">Psalm 3:2</a></b></br> Many <i>there be</i> which say of my soul, <i>There is</i> no help for him in God. Selah.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/22-8.htm">Psalm 22:8</a></b></br> He trusted on the LORD <i>that</i> he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/41-9.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/psalms/40-16.htm">Continually</a> <a href="/psalms/37-19.htm">Food</a> <a href="/job/38-41.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/psalms/32-4.htm">Night</a> <a href="/psalms/35-15.htm">Tear</a> <a href="/psalms/39-12.htm">Tears</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/53-4.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/psalms/42-10.htm">Continually</a> <a href="/psalms/44-11.htm">Food</a> <a href="/psalms/44-11.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/psalms/42-8.htm">Night</a> <a href="/psalms/50-22.htm">Tear</a> <a href="/psalms/56-8.htm">Tears</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 42</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/42-1.htm">David's zeal to serve God in the temple</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/42-5.htm">He encourages his soul to trust in God</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/42.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/42.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>My tears have been my food both day and night</b><br>This phrase reflects a deep sense of sorrow and distress. In biblical times, fasting was often associated with mourning, and the psalmist's tears replacing food suggests an intense emotional and spiritual anguish. The imagery of tears as sustenance indicates a period of prolonged suffering. This mirrors the experiences of other biblical figures, such as Job, who also expressed their grief through tears. The continuous nature of "day and night" emphasizes the relentlessness of the psalmist's pain, akin to the lamentations found in <a href="/lamentations/2-18.htm">Lamentations 2:18-19</a>, where the prophet Jeremiah weeps for the destruction of Jerusalem.<p><b>while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”</b><br>This phrase highlights the external pressure and mockery faced by the psalmist from those around him. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the presence and power of a deity were often judged by the visible success and prosperity of their followers. The question "Where is your God?" implies doubt and scorn, suggesting that the psalmist's suffering is seen as evidence of God's absence or impotence. This taunt is reminiscent of the challenges faced by Elijah on Mount Carmel (<a href="/1_kings/18-27.htm">1 Kings 18:27</a>), where the power of God was questioned. It also foreshadows the mockery Jesus faced on the cross (<a href="/matthew/27-43.htm">Matthew 27:43</a>), where His divine sonship was doubted in the face of His suffering. The psalmist's experience is a type of Christ's own suffering and the questioning of His divine mission.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/psalmist.htm">Psalmist</a></b><br>The author of <a href="/bsb/psalms/42.htm">Psalm 42</a>, traditionally attributed to the sons of Korah, who were Levites and temple musicians. The psalmist expresses deep emotional turmoil and longing for God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The central figure whom the psalmist seeks and longs for amidst his distress and the taunts of others.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/adversaries.htm">Adversaries</a></b><br>The people who taunt the psalmist, questioning the presence and faithfulness of God in his life.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/tears.htm">Tears</a></b><br>Symbolic of the psalmist's deep sorrow and continuous mourning, representing his emotional and spiritual state.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/d/day_and_night.htm">Day and Night</a></b><br>Indicates the unceasing nature of the psalmist's distress and longing for God's presence.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_suffering.htm">The Reality of Suffering</a></b><br>Suffering is a part of the human experience, even for the faithful. The psalmist's tears remind us that it is normal to feel overwhelmed and question God's presence during difficult times.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_lament.htm">The Power of Lament</a></b><br>Lament is a biblical way to express sorrow and seek God. It is a form of prayer that acknowledges pain while still reaching out to God, demonstrating faith even in doubt.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_amidst_doubt.htm">Faith Amidst Doubt</a></b><br>The psalmist's questioning, "Where is your God?" reflects a struggle with doubt. Yet, this questioning can lead to a deeper faith as we seek answers and reassurance from God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_and_support.htm">Community and Support</a></b><br>The psalmist's experience highlights the importance of community. Believers should support one another, especially when facing taunts or doubts about God's presence.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_god's_faithfulness.htm">Hope in God's Faithfulness</a></b><br>Despite the psalmist's tears and the taunts of others, there is an underlying hope in God's faithfulness. Trusting in God's character and past faithfulness can sustain us through trials.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_42.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 42</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_ask_'where_is_god'_if_omnipresent.htm">If God is said to be omnipresent, why does the psalmist continually ask, “Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:3)? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_about_sadness.htm">What guidance does the Bible offer on sadness?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_legacy_standard_bible.htm">Who was St. John of the Cross?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_st._john_of_the_cross.htm">Who was St. John of the Cross?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/42.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) <span class= "bld">My tears.</span>--Comp. <a href="/psalms/80-5.htm" title="You feed them with the bread of tears; and give them tears to drink in great measure.">Psalm 80:5</a>; <a href="/psalms/102-9.htm" title="For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.">Psalm 102:9</a>; and Ovid Metam. x. 75, "<span class= "ital">Cura dolorque animi lacrimaeque alimenta fuere."</span><p><span class= "bld">Where is thy God?</span>--For this bitter taunt comp. <a href="/psalms/79-10.htm" title="Why should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of your servants which is shed.">Psalm 79:10</a>; <a href="/psalms/115-2.htm" title="Why should the heathen say, Where is now their God?">Psalm 115:2</a>; <a href="/joel/2-17.htm" title="Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare your people, O LORD, and give not your heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: why should they say among the people, Where is their God?">Joel 2:17</a>, etc. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/42.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/80-9.htm">Psalm 80:9</a>, "Thou feedest them with the <span class="accented">bread of tears</span>;" and Ovid, 'Metaph.,' 10:288, "Cure dolorque animi, lachrymaeque, <span class="accented">alimenta</span> fuere" - "They who grieve deeply do not eat; they only weep;" yet they live on, so that their tears appear to be their aliment). David's grief at being shut out from God's presence is intensified by the reproaches of his enemies, "Where is thy God?" <span class="accented">i.e.</span> "Is he not wholly gone from thee? Has he not utterly cast thee off?" (comp. <a href="/2_samuel/16-8.htm">2 Samuel 16:8</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/42-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">My tears</span><br /><span class="heb">דִמְעָתִ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(ḏim·‘ā·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1832.htm">Strong's 1832: </a> </span><span class="str2">Tears (of one weeping)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have been</span><br /><span class="heb">הָֽיְתָה־</span> <span class="translit">(hā·yə·ṯāh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my</span><br /><span class="heb">לִּ֬י</span> <span class="translit">(lî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">food</span><br /><span class="heb">לֶ֭חֶם</span> <span class="translit">(le·ḥem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3899.htm">Strong's 3899: </a> </span><span class="str2">Food, bread, grain</span><br /><br /><span class="word">day</span><br /><span class="heb">יוֹמָ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(yō·w·mām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3119.htm">Strong's 3119: </a> </span><span class="str2">Daytime, by day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and night,</span><br /><span class="heb">וָלָ֑יְלָה</span> <span class="translit">(wā·lā·yə·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3915.htm">Strong's 3915: </a> </span><span class="str2">A twist, night, adversity</span><br /><br /><span class="word">while men say</span><br /><span class="heb">בֶּאֱמֹ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(be·’ĕ·mōr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to me</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵלַ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·lay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">all day long,</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(kāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Where</span><br /><span class="heb">אַיֵּ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(’ay·yêh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_346.htm">Strong's 346: </a> </span><span class="str2">Where?</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is your God?”</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/42-3.htm">Psalm 42:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/42-3.htm">Psalm 42:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/42-3.htm">Psalm 42:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/42-3.htm">Psalm 42:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/42-3.htm">Psalm 42:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/42-3.htm">Psalm 42:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/42-3.htm">Psalm 42:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/42-3.htm">Psalm 42:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/42-3.htm">Psalm 42:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/42-3.htm">Psalm 42:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/42-3.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 42:3 My tears have been my food day (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/42-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 42:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 42:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/42-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 42:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 42:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>