For the musical director: a song[fn] by Korah’s descendants.

1 As a deer thirsts for streams of water,

so too my soul longs for you, God.

2 My soul thirsts for God—for the living God.

When will I go and appear before God?

3 My tears are my food day and night,

as people are asking me every day, “Where’s your god?”

4 These things I remember, and I pour out my soul within myself.

I travelled with the crowd and accompanied them to God’s residence

with shouts of joy and praise—a multitude celebrating a festival.

5 Why are you bowed down, my soul,

and upset within me?

Put your hope in God, because I’ll praise him again—

praise him for how my god’s presence leads to my being saved.

6 My soul is bowed down within me,

therefore I remember you from the land of the Yarden (Jordan) river

and Mt. Hermon’s heights and from Mt. Mits’ar.

7 Deep is calling to deep with the roar of your waterfalls;

All your waves and gusts flow over me.

8 During the day, Yahweh exercises his loyal commitment,

and in the night, his song is with me—

a prayer to the god who gave me life.

9 I’ll ask God, my place of safety, “Why have you forgotten me?

Why do I walk around mourning because of an enemy’s oppression?”

10 When those who are hostile to me rebuke me, asking me all day long, “Where’s your god?”

it feels like my bones are crushed.

11 My soul, why are you bowed down?

≈ And why are you upset within me?

Put your hope in God, because I’ll thank him again—

my god’s presence leads to my being saved.