BOOK TWO: Psalms 42—72

Yearning for God in the Midst of Distresses

To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation^[a] of the sons of Korah.

42 As the deer pants for the water brooks,So pants my soul for You, O God.² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.When shall I come and appear before God?^[b]3 My tears have been my food day and night,While they continually say to me,“Where is your God?”

⁴ When I remember these things,I pour out my soul within me.For I used to go with the multitude;I went with them to the house of God,With the voice of joy and praise,With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God, for I shall yet praise HimFor the help of His countenance.^[c]

⁶ O my God,^[d] my soul is cast down within me;Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,And from the heights of Hermon,From the Hill Mizar.⁷ Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;All Your waves and billows have gone over me.⁸ The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,And in the night His song shall be with me—A prayer to the God of my life.

⁹ I will say to God my Rock,“Why have You forgotten me?Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”¹⁰ As with a breaking of my bones,My enemies reproach me,While they say to me all day long,“Where is your God?”

¹¹ Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God;For I shall yet praise Him,The help of my countenance and my God.