Psalm 42

For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.

1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?

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

4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and

6 my God.

My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

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

8 By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is 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 go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?”

10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”

11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

PSALMS 42

BOOK II

(Psalms 42–72)

Longing for God

1 As a deer gets thirsty
for streams of water,
I truly am thirsty
for you, my God.

2 In my heart, I am thirsty
for you, the living God.
When will I see your face?

3 Day and night my tears
are my only food,
as everyone keeps asking,
“Where is your God?”

4 Sorrow floods my heart,
when I remember
leading the worshipers
to your house.t
I can still hear them shout
their joyful praises.

5 Why am I discouraged?
Why am I restless?
I should trust you, [Lord].
I will praise you again
because you help me,

6 and you are my God.
I am deeply discouraged,
and so I think about you
here where the Jordan begins
at Mount Hermon
and at Mount Mizar.t

7 Your vicious waves
have swept over me
like an angry ocean
or a roaring waterfall.

8 Every day, you are kind,
and at night
you give me a song
as my prayer to you,
the God of my life.

9 You are my mighty rock.t
Why have you forgotten me?
Why must enemies mistreat me
and make me sad?

10 Even my bones are in pain,
while all day long
my enemies sneer and ask,
“Where is your God?”

11 Why am I discouraged?
Why am I restless?
I trust you, [Lord]!
And I will praise you again
because you help me,
and you are my God.