Why Are You Downcast, O My Soul? (Psalm 42)
Like a deer longs for the water
So my soul cries out for You
In the silence of my sorrow
God, I'm reaching for the truth
Tears have been my only portion
Day and night they fall like rain
Still I say, through every question
I will praise You through the pain
Why, my soul, are you downcast
Why so troubled deep within
Put your hope in God my Savior
He will lead me home again
Though the waves crash all around me
And the night is closing in
Still His song is with me always
He's my refuge, He's my friend
I remember holy moments
How we danced and raised our hands
Now I walk through distant valleys
Still I trust His perfect plan
From the heights down to the ocean
Deep is calling out to deep
In the roar of many waters
Still His mercy covers me
Why, my soul, are you downcast
Why so troubled deep within
Put your hope in God my Savior
He will lead me home again
Though the waves crash all around me
And the night is closing in
Still His song is with me always
He's my refuge, He's my friend
I will lift my eyes to heaven
Though my heart feels far away
He's the strength behind my weeping
He's the dawn of every day
Oh my soul, lift up your praises
Though the storm is raging wild
For my God will not forsake me
I'm His child, yes, I'm His child
He's the light upon the mountain
He's the whisper in the wind
I will trust Him, I will follow
'Til I see His face again
“Why so downcast, my soul, why disquieted within me? Have hope in God; I will yet praise Him for His saving presence.”
Read Psalm 42 →Close Psalm 42 ↑
1For the leader. A maskil of the Korahites.
2Like a hind crying for water, my soul cries for You, O God;
3my soul thirsts for God, the living God; O when will I come to appear before God!
4My tears have been my food day and night; I am ever taunted with, “Where is your God?”
5When I think of this, I pour out my soul: how I walked with the crowd, moved with them, the festive throng, to the House of God with joyous shouts of praise.
6Why so downcast, my soul, why disquieted within me? Have hope in God; I will yet praise Him for His saving presence.
7O my God, my soul is downcast; therefore I think of You in this land of Jordan and Hermon, in Mount Mizar,
8where deep calls to deep in the roar of Your cataracts; all Your breakers and billows have swept over me.
9By day may the LORD vouchsafe His faithful care, so that at night a song to Him may be with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
10I say to God, my rock, “Why have You forgotten me, why must I walk in gloom, oppressed by my enemy?”
11Crushing my bones, my foes revile me, taunting me always with, “Where is your God?”
12Why so downcast, my soul, why disquieted within me? Have hope in God; I will yet praise Him, my ever-present help, my God.