Psalm 42 - Modern English Version

For the Music Director. A Contemplative Maskil of the sons of Korah.

¹ As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God.

² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

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 would go with the throng of people, and lead them in procession to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping festival.

⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.

⁶ O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan, and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

⁷ Deep calls to deep at the thunder of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and Your billows have gone over me.

⁸ The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song will 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 a shattering 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 again praise Him, my salvation and my God.