1{A Song, a Psalm for the sons of Korah. To the chief Musician. Upon Mahalath Leannoth. An instruction. Of Heman the Ezrahite.} Jehovah, God of my salvation, I have cried by day and in the night before thee.

2Let my prayer come before thee; incline thine ear unto my cry.

3For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draweth nigh to Sheol.

4I am reckoned with them that go down into the pit; I am as a man that hath no strength:

5Prostrate among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave; whom thou rememberest no more, and who are cut off from thy hand.

6Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the deeps.

7Thy fury lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.

8Thou hast put my familiar friends far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.

9Mine eye consumeth by reason of affliction. Upon thee, Jehovah, have I called every day; I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

10Wilt thou do wonders to the dead? shall the shades arise and praise thee? Selah.

11Shall thy loving-kindness be declared in the grave? thy faithfulness in Destruction?

12Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13But as for me, Jehovah, I cry unto thee, and in the morning my prayer cometh before thee.

14Why, O Jehovah, castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?

15I am afflicted and expiring from my youth up; I suffer thy terrors, and I am distracted.

16Thy fierce anger hath gone over me; thy terrors have brought me to nought:

17They have surrounded me all the day like water; they have compassed me about together.

18Lover and associate hast thou put far from me: my familiar friends are darkness.