A Prayer for Help in Despair

¹ A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the music director; according to Mahalath Leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.¹ O Yahweh, God of my salvation, I cry out by day and through the night before you.

1. The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one

² Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry.

³ For my soul is full with troubles, and my life approaches Sheol.

⁴ I am reckoned with those descending to the pit. I am like a man¹ without strength,²

1. The Hebrew suggests a strong, vigorous man
2. Or “without help”

⁵ set free¹ among the dead, like the slain lying in the grave, whom you no longer remember, even those cut off from your hand.

1. Or “forsaken”

⁶ You have set me in the pit below, in dark places, in the depths.

⁷ Your wrath presses upon me, and you afflict me with all your waves. Selah

⁸ You have removed my acquaintances far from me. You have made me detestable¹ to them. I am confined and cannot go out.

1. Hebrew “an abomination”

⁹ My eye languishes from misery. I call on you, O Yahweh, every day; I spread out my hands¹ to you.

1. Hebrew “palms”

¹⁰ Do you work wonders¹ for the dead? Or do the departed spirits² rise up to praise you? Selah

1. Hebrew “wonder”
2. Hebrew rephaim, sometimes translated “shades”; the weakened state of those who have died

¹¹ Is your loyal love told in the grave, or your faithfulness in the underworld?¹

1. Hebrew abaddon, the place of destruction

¹² Are your wonders¹ known in the darkness, or your righteousness² in the land of forgetfulness?

1. Hebrew “wonder”
2. Or “deed of justice”

¹³ But as for me, I cry for help to you, O Yahweh, and in the morning my prayer comes before you.

¹⁴ Why do you reject my soul, O Yahweh? Why do you hide your face from me?

¹⁵ I am afflicted and perishing from my youth. I bear your terrors. I am distraught.¹

1. Hebrew meaning uncertain

¹⁶ Your burning anger has passed over me; your sudden fears have destroyed me.

¹⁷ They surround me like water all the day; they circle about me altogether.

¹⁸ You have removed loved one and friend far from me, my acquaintances far from my darkness.