1(For the one directing, Maskil, for the Bnei Korach)

2As the deer panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my nefesh after Thee, O Elohim.

3My nefesh thirsteth for Elohim,
for El Chai.
When shall I come and appear before Elohim? ⁴³

4My tears have been my lechem yomam valailah,
while they continually say unto me,
Where is Eloheicha?

5When 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).

6Why art thou cast down, O my nefesh?
And why groanest thou ⁴⁴within me?
Hope thou in ⁴⁵Elohim; for I shall yet give Him thanks,
for He is the yeshu'ah (salvation) of my countenance and Elohai.

7My nefesh is cast down within me;
therefore will I remember Thee
from Eretz Yarden, and from Chermonʼs peaks,
from Har Mitzar. ⁴⁶

8Tehom el Tehom ([oceanic] deep unto [oceanic] deep) calleth
at the noise of Thy waterfalls;
all Thy breakers and Thy billows
are passed over me.

9Yet 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).

10I 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)? ⁴⁷

11As with the crushing of my atzamot (bones),
mine tzorer (vexers, harassers) reproach me;
while they say all day long unto me,
Where is Eloheicha?

12Why 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.