Study Desk

BOOK II

Psalms 42–72

For the director of music. A maskil^[c] of the Sons of Korah.

As the deer^(a) pants for streams of water,^(b) so my soul pants^(c) for you, my God.

My soul thirsts^(d) for God, for the living God.^(e) When can I go^(f) and meet with God?

My tears^(g) have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"^(h)

These things I remember as I pour out my soul:⁽ⁱ⁾ how I used to go to the house of God^(j) under the protection of the Mighty One^[d] with shouts of joy^(k) and praise^(l) among the festive throng.^(m)

Why, my soul, are you downcast?⁽ⁿ⁾ Why so disturbed^(o) within me? Put your hope in God,^(p) for I will yet praise^(q) him, my Savior^(r) and my God.^(s)

My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember^(t) you from the land of the Jordan,^(u) the heights of Hermon^(v)—from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep^(w) in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.^(x)

By day the Lord directs his love,^(y) at night^(z) his song^(aa) is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.^(ab)

I say to God my Rock,^(ac) "Why have you forgotten^(ad) me? Why must I go about mourning,^(ae) oppressed^(af) by the enemy?"^(ag)

My bones suffer mortal agony^(ah) as my foes taunt^(ai) me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?"^(aj)

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.^(ak)

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b]

We have heard it with our ears,^(a) O God; our ancestors have told us^(b) what you did in their days, in days long ago.^(c)

With your hand you drove out^(d) the nations and planted^(e) our ancestors; you crushed^(f) the peoples and made our ancestors flourish.^(g)

It was not by their sword^(h) that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand,⁽ⁱ⁾ your arm,^(j) and the light^(k) of your face, for you loved^(l) them.

You are my King^(m) and my God,⁽ⁿ⁾ who decrees^[c] victories^(o) for Jacob.

Through you we push back^(p) our enemies; through your name we trample^(q) our foes.

I put no trust in my bow,^(r) my sword does not bring me victory;

but you give us victory^(s) over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.^(t)

In God we make our boast^(u) all day long,^(v) and we will praise your name forever.^[d](w)

But now you have rejected^(x) and humbled us;^(y) you no longer go out with our armies.^(z)

You made us retreat^(aa) before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered^(ab) us.

You gave us up to be devoured like sheep^(ac) and have scattered us among the nations.^(ad)

You sold your people for a pittance,^(ae) gaining nothing from their sale.

You have made us a reproach^(af) to our neighbors,^(ag) the scorn^(ah) and derision^(ai) of those around us.

You have made us a byword^(aj) among the nations; the peoples shake their heads^(ak) at us.

I live in disgrace^(al) all day long, and my face is covered with shame^(am)

at the taunts^(an) of those who reproach and revile^(ao) me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.^(ap)

All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten^(aq) you; we had not been false to your covenant.

Our hearts had not turned^(ar) back; our feet had not strayed from your path.

But you crushed^(as) us and made us a haunt for jackals;^(at) you covered us over with deep darkness.^(au)

If we had forgotten^(av) the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,^(aw)

would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?^(ax)

Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep^(ay) to be slaughtered.^(az)

Awake,^(ba) Lord! Why do you sleep?^(bb) Rouse yourself!^(bc) Do not reject us forever.^(bd)

Why do you hide your face^(be) and forget^(bf) our misery and oppression?^(bg)

We are brought down to the dust;^(bh) our bodies cling to the ground.

Rise up^(bi) and help us; rescue^(bj) us because of your unfailing love.^(bk)