1To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?3My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?4When 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.5Why 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.6O 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.7Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8Yet 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.9I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?10As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?11Why 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.
What’s happening. Written by the sons of Korah, temple musicians. The writer is far from Jerusalem and the temple, feeling cut off from worship and taunted by others.
What it means. The psalmist’s longing for God is like a deer desperate for water in dry country. It is an honest prayer from a time when God feels far away. The psalm keeps repeating, “Why are you downcast, my soul? Hope in God,” showing how to speak truth to your own heart in a low season.