Aa
A Prayer for Help in Despondency
A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A 88:0 Heb. MaschilContemplation of Heman the Ezrahite.
1O Lord, God of my salvation,
I have cried out day and night before You.
2Let my prayer come before You;
88:2 Listen toIncline Your ear to my cry.
3For my soul is full of troubles,
And my life draws near to the grave.
4I am counted with those who go88:4 Die down to the pit;
I am like a man who has no strength,
588:5 Lit. FreeAdrift among the dead,
Like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom You remember no more,
And who are cut off from Your hand.
6You have laid me in the lowest pit,
In darkness, in the depths.
7Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah
8You have 88:8 taken away my friendsput away my acquaintances far from me;
You have made me an abomination to them;
I am shut up, and I cannot get out;
9My eye wastes away because of affliction.
Lord, I have called daily upon You;
I have stretched out my hands to You.
10Will You work wonders for the dead?
Shall 88:10 shades, ghoststhe dead arise and praise You? Selah
11Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave?
Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction?
12Shall Your wonders be known in the dark?
And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13But to You I have cried out, O Lord,
And in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14Lord, why do You cast off my soul?
Why do You hide Your face from me?
15I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth;
I suffer Your terrors;
I am distraught.
16Your fierce wrath has gone over me;
Your terrors have 88:16 destroyed mecut me off.
17They came around me all day long like water;
They engulfed me altogether.
18Loved one and friend You have put far from me,
And my acquaintances into darkness.