The Book of Psalms

A Canticle Psalm to the sons of Korah. Unto the end. For Mahalath, to answer the understanding of Heman the Ezrahite.(a)

(b)

O Lord, God of my salvation: I have cried out, day and night, in your presence.

Let my prayer enter in your sight. Incline your ear to my petition.

For my soul has been filled with evils, and my life has drawn near to Hell.

I am considered to be among those who will descend into the pit. I have become like a man without assistance,

idle among the dead. I am like the wounded sleeping in sepulchers, whom you no longer remember, and who have been repelled by your hand.

They have lain me in the lower pit: in dark places and in the shadow of death.

Your fury has been confirmed over me. And you have brought all your waves upon me.

You have sent my acquaintances far from me. They have set me as an abomination to themselves. I was handed over, yet I did not depart.(c)

My eyes languished before destitution. All day long, I cried out to you, O Lord. I stretched out my hands to you.

Will you perform wonders for the dead? Or will physicians raise to life, and so confess to you?

Could anyone declare your mercy in the sepulcher, or your truth from within perdition?

Will your wonders be known in the darkness, or your justice in the land of oblivion?

And I have cried out to you, O Lord, and in early morning, my prayer will come before you.

Lord, why do you reject my prayer? Why do you turn your face away from me?

I am poor, and I have been amid hardships from my youth. And, though I have been exalted, I am humbled and disturbed.

Your wrath has crossed into me, and your terrors have disturbed me.

They have surrounded me like water, all day long. They have surrounded me, all at once.

Friend and neighbor, and my acquaintances, you have sent far away from me, away from misery.

(a)87:1 Maheleth:A musical instrument, or chorus of musicians, to answer one another.(Challoner)

(b)87:1 Understanding:Or a psalm of instruction, composed by Eman the Ezrahite, or by David, in his name.(Challoner)

LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.

Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.

For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol.(a)

I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,

set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand.

You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.

Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. Selah.

You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can’t escape.

My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, LORD. I have spread out my hands to you.

Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? Selah.

Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?

Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

But to you, LORD, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.

LORD, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?

I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.

Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.

They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.

You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.

(a)88:3 Sheol is the place of the dead.