A song or psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.
1 LORD God of my salvation,
before thee day and night cried I.
2 Before thee o let my pray’r come:
incline thine ear unto my cry.
3 Because my soul is troubled so:
and my life draws nigh to the grave.
4 Counted with them to th’ pit that go:
I’m as a man that no strength have.
5 Free among those men that be dead,
like slain which in the grave are shut;
by thee no more remembered:
and by thy hand off are they cut.
6 Thou hast me layd i'th pit most low
in darknesses, within deep caves.
7 Hard on me lies thy wrath, and thou
dost me afflict with all thy waves. Selah.
8 Men that of mine acquaintance be
thou hast put far away me fro:
unto them loathsome thou mad’st me,
I am shut up nor forth can go.
9 Because of mine affliction,
mine eye with mourning pines away:
Jehovah, I call thee upon:
and stretch my hands to thee all day;
(2)
10 Shew wonders to the dead wilt thou?
shall dead arise and thee confess? Selah.
11 I’th grave wilt thou thy kindness show?
in lost estate thy faithfulness?
12 Thy works that wonderful have been
within the dark shall they be known?
and shall thy righteousness be seen
in the land of oblivion?
13 But Lord I have cried thee unto
at morn, my pray’r prevent shall thee.
14 Lord why casts thou my soul thee fro?
why hidest thou thy face from me?
15 I’m poor afflicted, and to dye
am ready, from my youthful years,
I am sore troubled doubtfully
while I do bare thy horrid fears.
16 Thy fierce wrath over me doth go,
thy terrors they do me dismay.
17 Encompass me about they do,
close me together all the day.
18 Lover and friend a far thou hast
removed off away from me,
and mine acquaintance thou hast cast
into darksome obscurity.