A favorite Hymn, As Pants the Hart for Cooling Streams

I first learned this from a Presbyterian Hymnal in our church back in the 1970s. I loved it but seldom heard it sung. Latter I fell in love with the recording of it that Maddy Prior did. Maddy Prior recorded it with The Carnival Band on the album Sing Lustily & With Good Courage. I love singing this and playing it on my recorder.

It is based on the text from Psalm 42:

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 holy day.
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 daytime, 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.

Nahum Tate 1652-1715 and Nicholas Brady 1659-1726
Tune: Martyrdom, Hugh Wilson 1766-1824, Smiths Sacred Music 1825

As Pants the Hart for Cooling Streams

As pants the hart for cooling streams
When heated in the chase
So longs my soul, O God for thee
And thy refreshing grace.

For thee my God, the living God
My thirsty soul doth pine
O when shall I behold thy face
Thou majesty divine.

God of my strength how long shall I
Like one forgotten mourn
For long forsaken and exposed
To my oppressors scorn.

While restless, while cast down my soul
Hold still and thou shall sing
The praise of Him who is thy God
Thy health's eternal spring.

* male deer or stag