Psalms 42

1 “BOOK II. For the leader of the music. A song of the sons of Korah.” As the hart panteth for the water-brooks, So panteth my soul for thee, O God!

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.

2 My soul thirsteth for God, the living God: When shall I come, and appear before God?

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

3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me continually, “Where is thy God?”

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

4 When I think of it, I pour out my soul in grief; How I once walked with the multitude, Walked slowly with them to the house of God, Amid sounds of joy and praise with the festive multitude!

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.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, Him, my deliverer and my God!

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—

6 My soul is cast down within me, While I remember thee from the land of Jordan and Hermon, From the mountain Mizar.

my God! Even though I am very discouraged, I still remember you: from the land of Jordan and Hermon, and from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calleth for deep at the noise of thy waterfalls; All thy waves and billows have gone over me!

You thunder through the raging waters, through the noise of the waterfalls. Your crashing waves surge over me—I feel like I'm drowning.

8 Once the LORD commanded his kindness by day, And by night his praise was with me, -Thanksgiving to the God of my life.

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.

9 Now I say to God, my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning on account of the oppression of the enemy?

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?”

10 Like the crushing of my bones are the reproaches of the enemy, While they say to me continually, “Where is thy God?”

The mocking of my attackers crushes my bones. They're always asking me, “Where is your God?”

11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, Him, my deliverer and my God!

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!