1 A Song, a Psalm, by sons of Korah, to the Overseer, `Concerning the Sickness of Afflictions.' -- An instruction, by Heman the Ezrahite. O Jehovah, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly before Thee,

O Lord, the God Who saves me, I have cried out before You day and night.

2 M y prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,

Let my prayer come to You. Listen to my cry.

3 F or my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come to Sheol.

For my soul is filled with troubles. And my life comes near the grave.

4 I have been reckoned with those going down the pit, I have been as a man without strength.

I am added among those who go down into the deep hole. I am like a man without strength.

5 A mong the dead -- free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom Thou hast not remembered any more, Yea, they by Thy hand have been cut off.

I am left among the dead, like those who have been killed and lie in the grave, whom You remember no more. They are cut off from Your help.

6 T hou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.

You have put me in the deepest hole, in a dark and deep place.

7 U pon me hath Thy fury lain, And all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. Selah.

Your anger has rested upon me. And You have troubled me with all Your waves.

8 T hou hast put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up -- I go not forth.

You have taken my good friends far from me. You have made me hated by them. I am shut in and cannot go out.

9 M ine eye hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands.

My eyes have become weak because of trouble. I have called to You every day, O Lord. I have spread out my hands to You.

10 T o the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? Selah.

Will You show Your great works to the dead? Will the dead rise and praise You?

11 I s Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?

Will Your loving-kindness be told about in the grave, and how faithful You are in the place that destroys?

12 A re Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

Will Your great works be known in the darkness, and Your right and good works in the land where all is forgotten?

13 A nd I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.

But I have cried to You for help, O Lord. My prayer comes to You in the morning.

14 W hy, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me.

O Lord, why do You turn away from me? Why do You hide Your face from me?

15 I afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors -- I pine away.

I have been troubled and near death since I was young. I have suffered Your punishment. And I cannot win.

16 O ver me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,

Your burning anger has passed over me. The punishment You have sent destroys me.

17 T hey have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,

They gather around me like water all day long. Together they close in upon me.

18 T hou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance the place of darkness!

You have taken my friend and loved one far from me. Friends that were near to me are in darkness.