1A Song, a Psalm of the sons of Korah; for the Chief Musician; set to Mahalath Leannoth. Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
2Let my prayer enter into thy presence; incline thine ear unto my cry:
3For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto Sheol.
4I am counted with them that go down into the pit; I am as a man that hath no help:
5Cast off among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more; and they are cut off from thy hand.
6Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the deeps.
7Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah
8Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
9Mine eye wasteth away by reason of affliction: I have called daily upon thee, O LORD, I have spread forth my hands unto thee.
10Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall they that are deceased arise and praise thee? Selah
11Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in Destruction?
12Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13But unto thee, O LORD, have I cried, and in the morning shall my prayer come before thee.
14LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
15I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
16Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
17They came round about me like water all the day long; they compassed me about together.
18Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.