Book Two: Psalms 42–72

Psalm 42

Yearning for God in the Midst of Distresses

To the Chief Musician. A 1Contemplation of the Sons of Korah.

1 As the deer 2pants for the water brooks,

So pants my soul for You, O God.

2 aMy soul thirsts for God, for the bliving God.

When shall I come and 3appear before God?

3 cMy tears have been my food day and night,

While they continually say to me,

d“Where is your God?”

4 When I remember these things,

eI pour out my soul within me.

For I used to go with the multitude;

fI went with them to the house of God,

With the voice of joy and praise,

With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

5 gWhy are you 4cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

hHope in God, for I shall yet praise Him

5For the help of His countenance.

6 6O my God, my soul is cast down within me;

Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,

And from the heights of Hermon,

From 7the Hill Mizar.

7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;

iAll Your waves and billows have gone over me.

8 The Lord will jcommand His lovingkindness in the daytime,

And kin the night His song shall be with me—

A prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will say to God my Rock,

l“Why have You forgotten me?

Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

10 As with a 8breaking of my bones,

My enemies 9reproach me,

mWhile they say to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”

11 nWhy are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God;

For I shall yet praise Him,

The 1help of my countenance and my God.