BOOK II As the Deer Pants for the Water 1 UST When a wild deer is very thirsty, it takes short, quick breaths because it wants so badly to find a brook from which it can drink water. That is how much I want you, God. It is as if I am taking short, quick breaths. BSB BSB: For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.
2 UST You are the only true God, and I desire very greatly to be in your temple again and worship in your presence. I desire that so much that it is as if I am very thirsty. BSB BSB: My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?
3 UST I have been crying continually. I have been crying so much that I have not been able to eat. This is because my enemies keep telling me,“Your God will certainly not help you!” BSB BSB: My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”
4 UST It is appropriate for me to weep to express my great sorrow. But{ to encourage myself,} I should also remember how I used to go with large groups of people to celebrate festivals at God’ s temple.{ Because I was one of the worship musicians,} I would lead the people as they walked to the temple.{ On the way there,} we all shouted joyfully and praised God. BSB BSB: These things come to mind as I pour out my soul: how I walked with the multitude, leading the festive procession to the house of God with shouts of joy and praise.
5 UST So I certainly should not be so sad and upset! I can confidently expect God to rescue me! When he does, I will have the opportunity to praise him as my savior and BSB BSB: Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence.
6 UST my God. But I do feel very sad. So{ even though I am a long distance from your temple, God} I will remember you from here at Mount Mizar in the land near Mount Hermon where the Jordan River begins. BSB BSB: O my God, my soul despairs within me. Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon—even from Mount Mizar.
7 UST The waterfalls you created make such a loud sound that it is as if one deep stream were shouting to another deep stream within the river. I feel such anguish that it is as if one wave after another were crashing over me. BSB BSB: Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me.
8 UST Yahweh continually loves me faithfully as he promised. In response, as he inspires me, I continually sing prayers to him. He is the God who keeps me alive. BSB BSB: The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day, and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life.
9 UST God is like a huge rock on top of which I am safe. So I will pray to him,“Please pay attention to me! I am living sorrowfully because my enemies are afflicting me!” BSB BSB: I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”
10 UST Those enemies are continually insulting me. They keep telling me,“Your God will certainly not help you!” When they insult me like that, it is as painful as if they were breaking my bones. BSB BSB: Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 UST But I certainly should not be so sad and upset! I can confidently expect God to rescue me! When he does, I will have the opportunity to praise him as my savior and my God. BSB BSB: Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.