A song. A psalm for the sons of Korah. For the music director; according to Mahalath Leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.
LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out before you day and night. Let my prayer come before you;incline your ear to my cry. For my soul is filled with troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted with those who go down to the pit;
I am like a man without strength, adrift among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the deepest pit, in dark places, in the depths. Your wrath weighs heavily on me;
you have afflicted me with all your waves. Selah. You have put my acquaintances far from me;
you have made me repulsive to them.
I am shut in and cannot get out. My eyes grow dim from affliction.
I call to you, LORD, every day;
I spread out my hands to you. Do you work wonders for the dead?
Will the shades of the dead rise and give you thanks? Selah. Is your steadfast love recounted in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But I cry to you for help, LORD;
in the morning my prayer comes before you. Why, LORD, do you reject my soul and hide your face from me? I have been afflicted and near death from my youth;
I bear your terrors and am bewildered. Your burning anger has swept over me;
your terrors have destroyed me. They surround me like water all day long;
together they close in on me. You have put lover and friend far from me;
my companions are darkness.