Psalms 42

1 To the chief music-maker. Maschil. Of the sons of Korah. Like the desire of the roe for the water-streams, so is my soul's desire for you, O God.

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.

2 My soul is dry for need of God, the living God; when may I come and see the face of God?

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

3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they keep saying to me, Where is your God?

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

4 Let my soul be overflowing with grief when these things come back to my mind, how I went in company to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with the song of those who were keeping the feast.

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.

5 Why are you crushed down, O my soul? and why are you troubled in me? put your hope in God; for I will again give him praise who is my help and my God.

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.

6 My soul is crushed down in me, so I will keep you in mind; from the land of Jordan and of the Hermons, from the hill Mizar.

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.

7 Deep is sounding to deep at the noise of your waterfalls; all your waves have gone rolling over me.

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

8 But the Lord will send his mercy in the daytime, and in the night his song will be with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

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.

9 I will say to God my Rock, Why have you let me go from your memory? why do I go in sorrow because of the attacks of my haters?

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

10 The cruel words of my haters are like a crushing of my bones; when they say to me every day, Where is your God?

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

11 Why are you crushed down, O my soul? and why are you troubled in me? put your hope in God; for I will again give him praise who is my help and my God.

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.