Psalms 42

1 For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.

[For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by the sons of Korah.] As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

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

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

4 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.

These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, how I used to go in the tent of the Majestic One, to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a holy day.

5 Why 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.

Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God. For I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God.

6 O 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.

My soul is in despair within me. Therefore I remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon, from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me.

Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls. All your breakers and waves have swept over me.

8 The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day, and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life.

The LORD will command his loving kindness in the daytime. In the night his song shall be with me: a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”

I will ask God, my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"

10 Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they continually ask me, "Where is your God?"

11 Why 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.

Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God. For I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God.