Psalm 42

For the choir director: A psalm Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term. of the descendants of Korah. ¹As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. ² I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? ³ Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”

⁴My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!

⁵Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and ⁶my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. ⁷ I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. ⁸ But each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

⁹“O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” ¹⁰ Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

¹¹Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!