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 Thee.

     2Let my prayer come before Thee;
            Incline Thine 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 Thou dost remember no more,
            And they are cut off from Thy hand.

     6Thou hast put me in the lowest pit,
            In dark places, in the depths.

     7Thy wrath has rested upon me,
            And Thou hast afflicted me with all Thy waves. Selah.

     8Thou hast removed my acquaintances far from me;
            Thou hast 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 Thee every day, O LORD;
            I have spread out my hands to Thee.

     10Wilt Thou perform wonders for the dead?
            Will the departed spirits rise and praise Thee? Selah.

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

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

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

     14O LORD, why dost Thou reject my soul?
            Why dost Thou hide Thy face from me?

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

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

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

     18Thou hast removed lover and friend far from me;
            My acquaintances are in darkness.