Psalm 42 | New International Version

For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.

1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.* 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’ 4 These 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* with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. 5 Why, 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. 6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon – from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’ 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’ 11 Why, 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.

New International Reader’s Version

For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.

1 A deer longs for streams of water. God, I long for you in the same way. 2 I am thirsty for God. I am thirsty for the living God. When can I go and meet with him? 3 My tears have been my food day and night. All day long people say to me, ‘Where is your God?’ 4 When I remember what has happened, I tell God all my troubles. I remember how I used to walk to the house of God. The Mighty One guarded my steps. We shouted with joy and praised God as we went along with the joyful crowd. 5 My spirit, why are you so sad? Why are you so upset deep down inside me? Put your hope in God. Once again I will have reason to praise him. He is my Saviour and my God. 6 My spirit is very sad deep down inside me. So I will remember you here where the River Jordan begins. I will remember you here on the Hermon mountains and on Mount Mizar. 7 You have sent wave upon wave of trouble over me. It roars down on me like a waterfall. All your waves and breakers have rolled over me. 8 During the day the LORD sends his love to me. During the night I sing about him. I say a prayer to the God who gives me life. 9 I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go around in sorrow? Why am I treated so badly by my enemies?’ 10 My body suffers deadly pain as my enemies make fun of me. All day long they say to me, ‘Where is your God?’ 11 My spirit, why are you so sad? Why are you so upset deep down inside me? Put your hope in God. Once again I will have reason to praise him. He is my Saviour and my God.

Psalm 42 | New International Version New International Reader’s Version

For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.

For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.