Psalm 42

Abraham Coles

2 Thirsts for Thee, the Living God:
When before Thee shall I come?
3 Tears have been my daily food,
While they asked and I was dumb,

"Where is now Thy God? O where?"
4 I recall, how with the throng.
While thanksgivings shook the air.
To Thy House I passed along.

Dear to memory those days,
When dense crowds went up to pray;
And with voice of joy and praise
In Thy Courts kept holy day.

5 Why art thou cast down, my soul?
Why this tossing, sick unrest?
Hope in God, and Him extol,
Who the health is of thy breast.

6 O my God! I, sad and ill.
From the land of Jordan cry:
Hermon's heights and Mizar's hill
Refuge for the time supply.

7 Musing on the farther shore,
On successful treason's acts,
In full hearing of the roar
Of the mighty cataracts.

Bounds no more my spirit keeps,
Voicing deeps assume control.
All Thy waves and billows sweep
Over my astonished soul.

8 Yet the Lord will be, I know.
Gracious as He was of yore;
Will His loving-kindness show.
And will former songs restore.

9 I will say, My God! My Rock!
Why hast Thou forgotten me?
10 Why do I endure the mock
Of th'insulting enemy?

11 Why art thou cast down, my soul?
Why this tossing, sick unrest?
Hope in God, and Him extol,
Who the health is of thy breast.