Psalms 42

Book II

Psalm 42

Longing for God and His Help in Distress

1As a deer longs for flowing streams,[#Ps 119.131]

so my soul longs for you, O God.

2My soul thirsts for God,[#Ps 43.4; 63.1; Jer 10.10]

for the living God.

When shall I come and behold

the face of God?

3My tears have been my food[#Ps 79.10; 80.5]

day and night,

while people say to me continually,

“Where is your God?”

4These things I remember,[#Ps 62.8; 100.4; Isa 30.29]

as I pour out my soul:

how I went with the throng

and led them in procession to the house of God,

with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,

a multitude keeping festival.

5Why are you cast down, O my soul,[#Ps 38.6; 44.3; 77.3; Lam 3.24]

and why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God, for I shall again praise him,

my help

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.

7Deep calls to deep[#Ps 88.7; Jon 2.3]

at the thunder of your torrents;

all your waves and your billows

have gone over me.

8By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,[#Job 35.10; Ps 57.3; 63.6; 149.5]

and at night his song is with me,

a prayer to the God of my life.

9I say to God, my rock,[#Ps 38.6]

“Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I walk about mournfully

because the enemy oppresses me?”

10As with a deadly wound in my body,[#v 3]

my adversaries taunt me,

while they say to me continually,

“Where is your God?”

11Why are you cast down, O my soul,[#v 5]

and why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God, for I shall again praise him,

my help and my God.

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Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ