1A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. For the music leader. To the tune of 'The Suffering of Affliction.' A poem by Heman, the Ezrahite. Yahweh, the God who saves me, I have cried out to you day and night.
2Let my prayer come before you. Listen closely to my cry.
3My soul is full of troubles, and my life is coming to an end.
4I am counted among those who are dying. I am like a man with no one to help him.
5I am separated among the dead, like those killed who lie in a grave, whom you no longer remember. They are cut off from your care.
6You have put me in the deepest pit, in the darkest and lowest places.
7Your anger weighs heavily on me. You have overwhelmed me with all your waves. (Pause and think about that.)
8You have taken my friends away from me. You have made me disgusting to them. I am trapped and cannot escape.
9My eyes are weak from sadness. Yahweh, I have called on you daily. I have reached out my hands to you.
10Do you perform miracles for the dead? Do the spirits of the departed rise up and praise you? (Pause and think about that.)
11Is your faithful love spoken of in the grave? Or your loyalty in the place of destruction?
12Are your miracles known in the darkness? Or your righteousness in the land where things are forgotten?
13But I have cried out to you, Yahweh. Every morning, my prayer comes before you.
14Yahweh, why do you reject me? Why do you hide yourself from me?
15From a young age, I have been suffering and close to death. While I experience your terrors, I am confused.
16Your fierce anger has swept over me. Your terrors have destroyed me.
17They surrounded me like water all day long. They completely covered me.
18You have taken my loved ones and friends far from me, and my companions are in darkness.