Psalm 42

As pants the deer for flowing streams,

So longs my soul, O God, for you.

I thirst for God, the living God;

When can I meet with God anew?

My tears have been my constant food

Both in the night and in the day,

While all day long insistently,

“Where is this God of yours?” they say.

As I pour out my soul in grief,

These things I do remember still:

How with the multitude I went

Up to God’s house on Zion hill.

In their procession I would lead

As we approached with cheerful song

And shouts of joy and thankfulness,

Rejoicing with the festive throng.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why are you so disturbed in me?

Trust God, for I will praise him yet;

My Saviour and my God is he.

My soul within me is depressed;

I therefore will recall you still

From Jordan’s land, from Hermon’s heights

And from the top of Mizar hill.

Deep calls to deep, as with a roar

Your waterfalls cascading roll.

Your waves and breakers fall on me;

They overwhelm my very soul.

By day the LORD directs his love;

His song remains with me at night—

A prayer to him who is my God,

My only source of life and light.

This I will say to God my Rock,

“Why have you so forgotten me?

Why must I go about in grief,

Downtrodden by the enemy?”

My bones in mortal agony

Are groaning, while my en’mies say,

“Wherever is this God of yours?”

They scoff at me throughout the day.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why are you so disturbed in me?

Trust God, for I will praise him yet;

My Saviour and my God is he.