A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director; according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

1O LORD, the God of my salvation,
         I have cried out by day and in the night before You.

2Let my prayer come before You;
         Incline Your ear to my cry!

3For my soul has had enough troubles,
         And my life has drawn near to Sheol.

4I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit;
         I have become like a man without strength,

5Forsaken among the dead,
         Like the slain who lie in the grave,
         Whom You remember no more,
         And they are cut off from Your hand.

6You have put me in the lowest pit,
         In dark places, in the depths.

7Your wrath has rested upon me,
         And You have afflicted me with all Your waves.

8You have removed my acquaintances far from me;
         You have made me an object of loathing to them;
         I am shut up and cannot go out.

9My eye has wasted away because of affliction;
         I have called upon You every day, O LORD;
         I have spread out my hands to You.

10Will You perform wonders for the dead?
         Will the departed spirits rise and praise You?

11Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave,
         Your faithfulness in Abaddon?

12Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness?
         And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13But I, O LORD, have cried out to You for help,
         And in the morning my prayer comes before You.

14O LORD, why do You reject my soul?
         Why do You hide Your face from me?

15I was afflicted and about to die from my youth on;
         I suffer Your terrors; I am overcome.

16Your burning anger has passed over me;
         Your terrors have destroyed me.

17They have surrounded me like water all day long;
         They have encompassed me altogether.

18You have removed lover and friend far from me;
         My acquaintances are in darkness.

NASB ©1995