Psalms 42

1 For the end, [a Psalm] for instruction, for the sons of Core. As the hart earnestly desires the fountains of water, so my soul earnestly longs for you, O God.

For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.

2 My soul has thirsted for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?

3 My tears have been bread to me day and night, while they daily said to me, Where is your God?

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

4 I remembered these things, and poured out my soul in me, for I will go to the place of your wondrous tabernacle, [even] to the house of God, with a voice of exultation and thanksgiving and of the sound of those who keep festival.

These things come to mind as I pour out my soul: how I walked with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God with shouts of joy and praise.

5 Therefore are you very sad, O my soul? and therefore do you trouble me? hope in God; for I will give thanks to him; [he is] the salvation of my countenance.

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence.

6 O my God, my soul has been troubled within me: therefore will I remember you from the land of Jordan, and of the Ermonites, from the little hill.

O my God, my soul despairs within me. Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon— even from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep at the voice of your cataracts: all your billows and your waves have gone over me.

Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me.

8 By day the Lord will command his mercy, and manifest [it] by night: with me [is] prayer to the God of my life.

The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day, and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will say to God, You are my helper; why have you forgotten me? therefore do I go sad of countenance, while the enemy oppresses [me]?

I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”

10 While my bones were breaking, they that afflicted me reproached me; while they said to me daily, Where is your God?

Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

11 Therefore are you very sad, O my soul? and therefore do you trouble me? hope in God; for I will give thanks to him; [he is] the health of my countenance, and my God.

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.