Psalm 4236

For the music director; a well-written song37 by the Korahites.

42:1 As a deer1 longs2 for streams of water,

so I long3 for you, O God!

42:2 I thirst4 for God,

for the living God.

I say,5 “When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?”6

42:3 I cannot eat, I weep day and night;7

all day long they say to me,8 “Where is your God?”

42:4 I will remember and weep!9

For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God,

shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival.10

42:5 Why are you depressed,11 O my soul?12

Why are you upset?13

Wait for God!

For I will again give thanks

to my God for his saving intervention.14

42:6 I am depressed,15

so I will pray to you while I am trapped here in the region of the upper Jordan,16

from Hermon,17 from Mount Mizar.18

42:7 One deep stream calls out to another19 at the sound of your waterfalls;20

all your billows and waves overwhelm me.21

42:8 By day the Lord decrees his loyal love,22

and by night he gives me a song,23

a prayer24 to the living God.

42:9 I will pray25 to God, my high ridge:26

“Why do you ignore27 me?

Why must I walk around mourning28

because my enemies oppress me?”

42:10 My enemies’ taunts cut into me to the bone,29

as they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”30

42:11 Why are you depressed,31 O my soul?32

Why are you upset?33

Wait for God!

For I will again give thanks

to my God for his saving intervention.34