1. As a deer longs for a stream of cool water,so I long for you, O God.
2. I thirst for you, the living God;when can I go and worship in your presence?
3. Day and night I cry,and tears are my only food;all the time my enemies ask me,“Where is your God?”
4. My heart breaks when I remember the past,when I went with the crowds to the house of Godand led them as they walked along,a happy crowd, singing and shouting praise to God.
5. Why am I so sad?Why am I so troubled?I will put my hope in God,and once again I will praise him,my saviour and my God.
6-7. Here in exile my heart is breaking,and so I turn my thoughts to him.He has sent waves of sorrow over my soul;chaos roars at me like a flood,like waterfalls thundering down to the Jordanfrom Mount Hermon and Mount Mizar.
8. May the Lord show his constant love during the day,so that I may have a song at night,a prayer to the God of my life.
9. To God, my defender, I say,“Why have you forgotten me?Why must I go on sufferingfrom the cruelty of my enemies?”
10. I am crushed by their insults,as they keep on asking me,“Where is your God?”
11. Why am I so sad?Why am I so troubled?I will put my hope in God,and once again I will praise him,my saviour and my God.