Sicut cervus

General Information

The text Sicut cervus is from the older latin translation of Psalm 41 (according to the numbering of the Vulgate, or latin bible) or 42 (according to the numbering of the hebrew bible).

Original text and translations

Latin text

1. Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus.
2. Sitivit anima mea ad Deum fortem vivum: quando veniam et apparebo ante faciem Dei?
3. Fuerunt mihi lacrymae meae panes die ac nocte, dum dicitur mihi quotidie: Ubi est Deus tuus?
4. ...

English translation King James Version

1. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3. My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
4. When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
6. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8. Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10. As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Alternative translation of verse 1: As the deer longs for running water, so longs my soul for you, O Lord.

Settings by composers

• Johannes Ockeghem: Tractus, from the Missa pro defunctis (verse 1)
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (verse 1)
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (verses 2 and 3)
• Manuel Dias de Oliveira (verses 1 and 3)