Psalms 42

The psalmist pants for God as a deer pants for streams of water, his soul thirsting for the living God. Tears are his food day and night as enemies taunt him, yet he preaches to his own soul: "Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him."

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.	As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
2	My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?	My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
3	My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?	My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
4	When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.	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 art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.	Why are You cast down, O my soul? And why are You disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.
6	O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.	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 calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.	Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
8	Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.	Yet the LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer to the God of my life.
9	I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?	I say to God my Rock, "Why have You forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?"
10	As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?	My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is Your God?"
11	Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.	Why are You cast down, O my soul? And why are You disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.