42
1 (For the one directing, Maskil, for the Bnei Korach)
2 As the deer panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my nefesh after Thee, O Elohim.
3 My nefesh thirsteth for Elohim,
for El Chai.
When shall I come and appear before Elohim?*
4 My tears have been my lechem yomam valailah,
while they continually say unto me,
Where is Eloheicha?
5 When I remember these things,
I pour out my nefesh within me;
for I had gone with the multitude,
I went with them to the Beis Elohim
with the voice of rinnah and todah,
with the multitude keeping Chag (holy day, pilgrim feast).
6 Why art thou cast down, O my nefesh?
And why groanest thou† within me?
Hope thou in‡ Elohim; for I shall yet give Him thanks,
for He is the yeshu'ah (salvation) of my countenance and Elohai.
7 My nefesh is cast down within me;
therefore will I remember Thee
from Eretz Yarden, and from Chermonʼs peaks,
from Har Mitzar.§
8 Tehom el Tehom ([oceanic] deep unto [oceanic] deep) calleth
at the noise of Thy waterfalls;
all Thy breakers and Thy billows
are passed over me.
9 Yet Hashem will command His chesed by day,
and in the night His shir (song) shall be with me,
my tefillah (prayer) unto the El Chayyai (G-d of my life).
10 I will say unto El Sali (G-d my Rock),
Why hast Thou forgotten me?
Why go I mourning
because of the oppression of the oyev (enemy)?*
11 As with the crushing of my atzamot (bones),
mine tzorer (vexers, harassers) reproach me;
while they say all day long unto me,
Where is Eloheicha?
12 Why art thou cast down, O my nefesh?
And why art thou disquieted within me?
Hope thou in (wait for) Elohim;
for I shall yet give Him thanks,
for He is the yeshu'ah (salvation) of my countenance and Elohai.
* 42:3 in the Beis Hamikdash † 42:6 i.e., murmuring in discouragement ‡ 42:6 i.e., wait for § 42:7 mountain near Mt Chermon * 42:10 Mt 27:46