Psalm 42 Catholic: As the Deer Longs for Running Streams

Psalm 42, “As the hart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul panteth after thee, O God,” is the prayer of a soul thirsting for God. Far from the Temple and taunted with “Where is thy God?”, the psalmist answers his own sadness with hope: “Hope in God, for I will still give praise to him.” In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 41. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.

Psalm 42 in the Douay-Rheims Bible

Unto the end, understanding for the sons of Core.
As the hart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul panteth after thee, O God.
My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God?
My tears have been my bread day and night, whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God?
These things I remembered, and poured out my soul in me: for I shall go over into the place of the wonderful tabernacle, even to the house of God: With the voice of joy and praise; the noise of one feasting.
Why art thou sad, O my soul? and why dost thou trouble me? Hope in God, for I will still give praise to him: the salvation of my countenance,
And my God. My soul is troubled within myself: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan and Hermoniim, from the little hill.
Deep calleth on deep, at the noise of thy flood-gates. All thy heights and thy billows have passed over me.
In the daytime the Lord hath commanded his mercy; and a canticle to him in the night. With me is prayer to the God of my life.
I will say to God: Thou art my support. Why hast thou forgotten me? and why go I mourning, whilst my enemy afflicteth me?
Whilst my bones are broken, my enemies who trouble me have reproached me; Whilst they say to me day by day: Where is thy God?
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why dost thou disquiet me? Hope thou in God, for I will still give praise to him: the salvation of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 42 or Psalm 41?

The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 41 is Psalm 42 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Quemadmodum desiderat cervus ad fontes aquarum. See how many psalms are there?

What the psalm means

Thirst for God: the deer searching for water is an image of the soul that can only be satisfied by God.
Tears and taunts: “My tears have been my bread day and night, whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God?”
Remembering better days: the psalmist remembers going up to “the house of God: with the voice of joy and praise.”
Talking to one’s own soul: the refrain “Why art thou sad, O my soul?… Hope in God” is a model of fighting discouragement with faith.
“Deep calleth on deep”: the waves of sorrow are great, but God’s mercy is greater, by day and by night.

How the Church uses Psalm 42

At the Easter Vigil, when there is a baptism, after the seventh reading: the newly baptized are like deer reaching the living water. See the Easter Vigil.
At funerals, as a responsorial psalm: “My soul is thirsting for the living God.” See Catholic funeral readings.
In music, the old Easter Vigil chant Sicut cervus (Like the deer), set by Palestrina, was sung on the way to the baptismal font.
Its companion, Psalm 43 (Douay 42), opened the traditional Latin Mass: “And I will go in to the altar of God: to God who giveth joy to my youth.”

A prayer with Psalm 42

Written for this page:

O God, as the deer longs for running streams, so my soul longs for you.
When I am downcast and others ask, “Where is your God?”,
let me hope in you and still give you praise.
Lead me to the living water and, at the last, to see your face. Amen.

Frequently asked questions

What is Psalm 42 about?

The soul’s longing for God, sadness at feeling far from him, and hope that overcomes discouragement.

Why is Psalm 42 used at the Easter Vigil?

Because the deer thirsting for water is an image of catechumens longing for the waters of Baptism.

Are Psalms 42 and 43 one psalm?

They share the same refrain and many scholars think they were once a single psalm.

More psalms and prayers

Texts and sources

Scripture: Psalm 41 (42); Psalm 42:4 (43:4), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
The prayer was written for this page.