Psalm 42

For the choir director; a maskila by Korah’s descendants. 

1  As a deer longs for flowing streams, 

so my soul longs for you, O God. 

2  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 

When may I come to see God’s face? 

3  My tears are my food day and night. 

People ask me all day long, “Where is your God?” 

4  I will remember these things as I pour out my soul: 

how I used to walk with the crowd 

and lead it in a procession to God’s house. 

⸤I sang⸥ songs of joy and thanksgiving 

while crowds of people celebrated a festival. 

5  Why are you discouraged, my soul? 

Why are you so restless? 

Put your hope in God, 

because I will still praise him. 

He is my savior and my God. 

6  My soul is discouraged. 

That is why I will remember you 

in the land of Jordan, on the peaks of Hermon, on Mount Mizar. 

7  One deep sea calls to another at the roar of your waterspouts. 

All the whitecaps on your waves have swept over me. 

8  The Lord commands his mercy during the day, 

and at night his song is with me— 

a prayer to the God of my life. 

9  I will ask God, my rock, 

“Why have you forgotten me? 

Why must I walk around in mourning 

while the enemy oppresses me?” 

10  With a shattering blow to my bones, 

my enemies taunt me. 

They ask me all day long, “Where is your God?” 

11  Why are you discouraged, my soul? 

Why are you so restless? 

Put your hope in God, 

because I will still praise him. 

He is my savior and my God.