Psalms of hope for times of prayer

Psalm 42

Longing for God and His help in distress

As a deer longs for flowing streams,

   so my soul longs for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God,

   for the living God.

When shall I come and behold

   the face of God?

My tears have been my food

   day and night,

while people say to me continually,

   ‘Where is your God?’

These things I remember,

   as I pour out my soul:

how I went with the throng,

   and led them in procession to the house of God,

with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,

   a multitude keeping festival.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

   and why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

   my help and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;

   therefore I remember you

from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,

   from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep

   at the thunder of your cataracts;

all your waves and your billows

   have gone over me.

By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,

   and at night his song is with me,

   a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God, my rock,

   ‘Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I walk about mournfully

   because the enemy oppresses me?’

As with a deadly wound in my body,

   my adversaries taunt me,

while they say to me continually,

   ‘Where is your God?’

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

   and why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

   my help and my God.

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.

   Lord, hear my voice!

Let your ears be attentive

   to the voice of my supplications!

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,

   Lord, who could stand?

But there is forgiveness with you,

   so that you may be revered.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,

   and in his word I hope;

my soul waits for the Lord

   more than those who watch for the morning,

   more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the LORD!

   For with the LORD there is steadfast love,

   and with him is great power to redeem.

It is he who will redeem Israel

   from all its iniquities.