Like as the panting hart doth bray

1 Like as the panting hart doth bray
After the water brooks;
Ev'n in such wise, O God, my soul
After thee panting looks;
2 For God, ev'n for the living God
My soul it thirsteth sore;
O when shall I come and appear
The face of God before?

3 My tears have been unto me meat
by night, likewise by day:
While all daylong they unto me,
Where is thy God? do say.
4 When as unto my memory
These things recal I do,
Then I pour out my soul in me:
For I with troops did go.
With them unto God's house I went
With voice of joy and praise:
I with a multitude did go,
That did keep holy days.
5 My soul, why art cast down, and why
Stirr'd in me? thy hope place
In God, for praise him yet shall I
For health is in his face.

[2]
6 My God my soul in me's cast down;
Therefore thee mind I will
From Jordan's land, and Hermonites,
And from the little hill.
7 At sounding of thy water spouts,
Deep unto deep doth call;
Thy waves pass over me, likewise
Thy breaking billows all.

8 His loving kindness ye the Lord
command will in the day:
And in the night his songs with me,
To God my life I'll pray.
9 I'll say to God my rock, O why
Hast thou forgotten me?
For pressure of the enemy
Why should I mourning be?

10 As with a sword within my bones,
Mine en'mies me upbraid:
While all the day, Where is thy God?
They unto me have said.
11 My soul, O wherefore dost thou bow
Thy self down heavily?
And wherefore in me makest thou
A stir tumultuously?
Hope thou in God, because I shall
With praise him yet advance;
Who is my God, he also is
Health of my countenance.


Source: The Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the Old and New-Testament: faithfully translated into English metre: for the use, edification, and comfort of the saints...especially in New-England (25th ed) #PXLII