For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.
1As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.[1]2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?3My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’4These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One[2] with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.5Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.6My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon – from Mount Mizar.7Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.8By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life.9I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’10My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’11Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.
Psalm 42
English Standard Version
Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?
1To the choirmaster. A Maskil[1] of the Sons of Korah. As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. (1Ch 6:33; 1Ch 6:37; Joe 1:20)2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?[2] (Ex 23:17; Jos 3:10; Ps 63:1; Ps 84:2; Ps 84:7; Isa 41:17; Isa 55:1; Da 6:26; Joh 7:37)3My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” (Ps 42:10; Ps 79:10; Ps 80:5; Ps 102:9; Ps 115:2; Joe 2:17; Mic 7:10)4These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. (1Sa 1:15; 2Sa 6:15; Job 30:16; Ps 55:14; Ps 62:8; Isa 30:29; La 2:19)5Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation[3] (Ps 42:11; Ps 43:5; Ps 77:3; La 3:24; Mt 26:38; Joh 12:27)6and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. (De 3:9; 2Sa 17:22; 2Sa 17:24; Jon 2:7)7Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. (Ps 32:6; Ps 88:7; Jon 2:3)8By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. (Job 35:10; Ps 4:4; Ps 16:7; Ps 44:4; Ps 63:6; Ps 68:28; Ps 71:3; Ps 77:6; Ps 119:55; Ps 119:62; Ps 119:148; Ps 133:3; Ps 149:5)9I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” (2Sa 22:2; Ps 18:2; Ps 38:6; Ps 43:2)10As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” (Ps 42:3)11Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Ps 42:5)