Psalm 42–43

Book II

Psalm 42¹

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

^*As the deer^a pants for streams of water,^b

so my soul pants^c for you, my God.

My soul thirsts^d for God, for the living God.^e

When can I go^f and meet with God?

My tears^g have been my food

day and night,

while people say to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”^h

These things I remember

as I pour out my soul:ⁱ

how I used to go to the house of God^j

under the protection of the Mighty One

with shouts of joy^k and praise^l

among the festive throng.^m

Why, my soul, are you downcast?ⁿ

Why so disturbed^o within me?

Put your hope in God,^p

for I will yet praise^q him,

my Savior^r and my God.^s

My soul is downcast within me;

therefore I will remember^t you

from the land of the Jordan,^u

the heights of Hermon^v—from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep^w

in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers

have swept over me.^x

By day the Lord directs his love,^y

at night^z his song^a is with me—

a prayer to the God of my life.^b

I say to God my Rock,^c

“Why have you forgotten^d me?

Why must I go about mourning,^e

oppressed^f by the enemy?”^g

My bones suffer mortal agony^h

as my foes tauntⁱ me,

saying to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”^j

Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.^k

Psalm 43¹

Vindicate me, my God,

and plead my cause^a

against an unfaithful nation.

Rescue me^b from those who are

deceitful and wicked.^c

You are God my stronghold.

Why have you rejected^d me?

Why must I go about mourning,^e

oppressed by the enemy?^f

Send me your light^g and your faithful care,^h

let them lead me;ⁱ

let them bring me to your holy mountain,^j

to the place where you dwell.^k

Then I will go^l to the altar^m of God,

to God, my joyⁿ and my delight.^o

I will praise you with the lyre,^p

O God, my God.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.^q