Psalms 42

1 For the music director. A psalm (maskil) of the sons of Korah. As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God.

For the leader. A maskil of the Korahites. Like the hart which longs for brooks of water, I long for you, God.

2 I am thirsty for God, the living God. When can I go and see God's face?

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 only food, day and night, while people 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 I am crushed as I remember how I walked with the crowds, leading them in a procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and songs of thanks among the worshipers at the festival.

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 am I so discouraged? Why do I feel so sad? I will hope in God; I will praise him because he is the one who saves me—

Why am I downcast? Why this moaning within me? Hope in God; for yet will I praise him, my help, my God.

6 my God! Even though I am very discouraged, I still remember you: from the land of Jordan and Hermon, and 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 You thunder through the raging waters, through the noise of the waterfalls. Your crashing waves surge over me—I feel like I'm drowning.

Flood is calling to flood at the noise of your cataracts; all your waves and your breakers have passed over me.

8 But every day the Lord shows me his trustworthy love; every night he gives me songs to sing—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 cry out, “My God, my rock, why have you forgotten me? Why must I go around weeping because of the attacks of my enemies?”

I say to God my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk so sadly, so hard pressed by the foe?”

10 The mocking of my attackers crushes my bones. They're always asking me, “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 am I so discouraged? Why do I feel so sad? I will hope in God; I will praise him because he is the one who saves me—my God!

Why am I downcast? Why this moaning within me? Hope in God; for yet will I praise him, my help, my God.