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 leader. A maskil of the Korahites. Like the hart which longs for brooks of water, I long for you, God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?
I thirst for God, for my living God. When shall I enter in, and see the face of 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 by day and by night; for they say to me all the day long, ‘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.
My heart floods with sorrow, as I call to mind: how I used to pass on with the throng, at their head, to the house of God, with glad shouts and giving of thanks, in the throng who kept festival.
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 am I downcast? Why this moaning within me? Hope in God; for yet will I praise him, my help, 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.
I am sunk in my misery; I will therefore call you to mind from the land of Jordan and Hermon, the mountain Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me.
Flood is calling to flood at the noise of your cataracts; all your waves and your breakers have passed 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.
In the day I cry to the Lord to summon his kindness; and the song that I sing in the night is a prayer to the living God.
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 say to God my rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk so sadly, so hard pressed by the foe?’
10 Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
It pierces me to the heart to hear the enemy’s taunts, as all the day long they say to 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 am I downcast? Why this moaning within me? Hope in God; for yet will I praise him, my help, my God.
