Psalm 42:3
New International Version
My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

New Living Translation
Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”

English Standard Version
My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

Berean Standard Bible
My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”

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

New King James Version
My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?”

New American Standard Bible
My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

NASB 1995
My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

NASB 1977
My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Legacy Standard Bible
My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Amplified Bible
My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Christian Standard Bible
My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, “Where is your God? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me,” Where is your God?”

American Standard Version
My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

Contemporary English Version
Day and night my tears are my only food, as everyone keeps asking, "Where is your God?"

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
My tears are my food day and night. People ask me all day long, "Where is your God?"

Good News Translation
Day and night I cry, and tears are my only food; all the time my enemies ask me, "Where is your God?"

International Standard Version
My tears have been my food day and night, while people keep asking me all day long, "Where is your God?"

Majority Standard Bible
My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”

NET Bible
I cannot eat, I weep day and night; all day long they say to me, "Where is your God?"

New Heart English Bible
My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually ask me, "Where is your God?"

Webster's Bible Translation
My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, Where is thy God?

World English Bible
My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
My tear has been bread day and night to me, "" In their saying to me all the day, “Where [is] your God?”

Young's Literal Translation
My tear hath been to me bread day and night, In their saying unto me all the day, 'Where is thy God?'

Smith's Literal Translation
My tears were to me bread day and night, in saying to me all the days, Where is thy God?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
My tears have been any bread day and night, whilst it is said to me daily : Where is thy God?

Catholic Public Domain Version
My tears have been my bread, day and night. Meanwhile, it is said to me daily: “Where is your God?”

New American Bible
My tears have been my bread day and night, as they ask me every day, “Where is your God?”

New Revised Standard Version
My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
My tears have been my bread day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is your God?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
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?"
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
My tears have been my food day and night, While they say unto me all the day: 'Where is Thy God?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
My tears have been bread to me day and night, while they daily said to me, Where is thy God?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Blessed is He who Cares for the Poor
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 procession to the house of God with shouts of joy and praise.…

Cross References
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Revelation 7:17
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.’”

John 16:20
Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

2 Corinthians 1:4
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.

Luke 6:21
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Revelation 21:4
‘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.”

John 11:33-35
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.

2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

James 4:9
Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.

Isaiah 25:8
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.

Jeremiah 9:1
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.

Lamentations 1:16
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.

Job 16:20
My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.

Jeremiah 14:17
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.


Treasury of Scripture

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say to me, Where is your God?

tears

Psalm 80:5
Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.

Psalm 102:9
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

2 Samuel 16:12
It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

while

Psalm 42:10
As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Psalm 3:2
Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

Psalm 22:8
He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Jump to Previous
Bread Continually Food Meat Night Tear Tears
Jump to Next
Bread Continually Food Meat Night Tear Tears
Psalm 42
1. David's zeal to serve God in the temple
5. He encourages his soul to trust in God














My tears have been my food
This phrase poignantly captures the depth of the psalmist's sorrow. The Hebrew word for "tears" is "דִּמְעָה" (dima), which conveys a sense of deep emotional weeping. In the ancient Near Eastern context, tears were often seen as a physical manifestation of one's soul's anguish. The metaphor of tears being "food" suggests that the psalmist's grief is so consuming that it has replaced physical sustenance. This imagery reflects a profound spiritual hunger and longing for God's presence, which is a recurring theme throughout the Psalms.

day and night
The phrase "day and night" emphasizes the continual nature of the psalmist's distress. In Hebrew, "יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה" (yomam va-layla) suggests an unending cycle, indicating that the psalmist's sorrow is relentless and pervasive. This expression also underscores the idea that the psalmist's longing for God is not limited to specific times but is a constant, all-consuming desire. Historically, this reflects the ancient practice of seeking God both in the morning and evening, symbolizing a life wholly devoted to divine communion.

while men say to me all day long
Here, the psalmist introduces the external voices that exacerbate his internal turmoil. The Hebrew word "אָמַר" (amar) for "say" implies a repeated, perhaps mocking, questioning of the psalmist's faith. The phrase "all day long" (כָּל־הַיּוֹם, kol-hayom) suggests that these taunts are incessant, adding to the psalmist's distress. This reflects the historical context of Israel, where surrounding nations often questioned the power and presence of Israel's God, especially during times of national distress or exile.

Where is your God?
This question strikes at the heart of the psalmist's anguish. In Hebrew, "אֵי אֱלֹהֶיךָ" (ei elohecha) challenges the visible evidence of God's presence and power. This taunt is not just a personal attack but a theological one, questioning the very nature and faithfulness of God. In the scriptural context, such questions were common during periods of suffering or exile, when God's people felt abandoned. For the conservative Christian, this echoes the trials of faith faced by believers throughout history, reminding them of the importance of steadfast trust in God's unseen presence and promises.

(3) My tears.--Comp. Psalm 80:5; Psalm 102:9; and Ovid Metam. x. 75, "Cura dolorque animi lacrimaeque alimenta fuere."

Where is thy God?--For this bitter taunt comp. Psalm 79:10; Psalm 115:2; Joel 2:17, etc. . . .

Verse 3. - My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? (comp. Psalm 80:9, "Thou feedest them with the bread of tears;" and Ovid, 'Metaph.,' 10:288, "Cure dolorque animi, lachrymaeque, alimenta 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?" i.e. "Is he not wholly gone from thee? Has he not utterly cast thee off?" (comp. 2 Samuel 16:8).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
My tears
דִמְעָתִ֣י (ḏim·‘ā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1832: Tears (of one weeping)

have been
הָֽיְתָה־ (hā·yə·ṯāh-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

my
לִּ֬י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

food
לֶ֭חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

day
יוֹמָ֣ם (yō·w·mām)
Adverb
Strong's 3119: Daytime, by day

and night,
וָלָ֑יְלָה (wā·lā·yə·lāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity

while men say
בֶּאֱמֹ֥ר (be·’ĕ·mōr)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to me
אֵלַ֥י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

all day long,
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

“Where
אַיֵּ֥ה (’ay·yêh)
Interrogative
Strong's 346: Where?

is your God?”
אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


Links
Psalm 42:3 NIV
Psalm 42:3 NLT
Psalm 42:3 ESV
Psalm 42:3 NASB
Psalm 42:3 KJV

Psalm 42:3 BibleApps.com
Psalm 42:3 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 42:3 Chinese Bible
Psalm 42:3 French Bible
Psalm 42:3 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 42:3 My tears have been my food day (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 42:2
Top of Page
Top of Page