[1] A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You. [2] May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. [3] For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. [4] I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. [5] I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care. [6] You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths. [7] Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me. Selah [8] You have removed my friends from me; You have made me repulsive to them; I am confined and cannot escape. [9] My eyes grow dim with grief. I call to You daily, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You. [10] Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? Selah [11] Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? [12] Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion? [13] But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You. [14] Why, O LORD, do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me? [15] From my youth I was afflicted and near death. I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair. [16] Your wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me. [17] All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side. [18] You have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion.
