A prayer of one under grievous affliction: it agrees to Christ in his passion, and alludes to his death and burial.

¹ A Canticle Psalm to the sons of Korah. Unto the end. For Mahalath, to answer the understanding of Heman the Ezrahite.¹²

1. 87:1Maheleth: A musical instrument, or chorus of musicians, to answer one another.(Challoner)
2. 87:1Understanding: Or a psalm of instruction, composed by Eman the Ezrahite, or by David, in his name.(Challoner)

² O Lord, God of my salvation: I have cried out, day and night, in your presence.

³ Let my prayer enter in your sight. Incline your ear to my petition.

⁴ For my soul has been filled with evils, and my life has drawn near to Hell.

⁵ I am considered to be among those who will descend into the pit. I have become like a man without assistance,

⁶ 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.

⁷ They have lain me in the lower pit: in dark places and in the shadow of death.

⁸ Your fury has been confirmed over me. And you have brought all your waves upon me.

⁹ 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.¹

1. 87:9In other words: ‘I was handed over (to be harmed), even though I was not taken captive or taken away.’(Conte)

¹⁰ My eyes languished before destitution. All day long, I cried out to you, O Lord. I stretched out my hands to you.

¹¹ Will you perform wonders for the dead? Or will physicians raise to life, and so confess to you?

¹² Could anyone declare your mercy in the sepulcher, or your truth from within perdition?

¹³ Will your wonders be known in the darkness, or your justice in the land of oblivion?

¹⁴ And I have cried out to you, O Lord, and in early morning, my prayer will come before you.

¹⁵ Lord, why do you reject my prayer? Why do you turn your face away from me?

¹⁶ I am poor, and I have been amid hardships from my youth. And, though I have been exalted, I am humbled and disturbed.

¹⁷ Your wrath has crossed into me, and your terrors have disturbed me.

¹⁸ They have surrounded me like water, all day long. They have surrounded me, all at once.

¹⁹ Friend and neighbor, and my acquaintances, you have sent far away from me, away from misery.