Psalms 42–72

As the Deer Pants for the Water

¹ For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.¹ As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.

1. In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm. Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

² My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?¹

1. Or and see the face of God?

³ My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”

⁴ These things come to mind as I pour out my soul: how I walked with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God with shouts of joy and praise.

⁵ Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence.

⁶ O my God, my soul despairs within me. Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon— even from Mount Mizar.

⁷ Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me.

⁸ The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day, and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life.

⁹ I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”

¹⁰ Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

¹¹ Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.