A song, a melody of the sons of Korah, to the conductor, upon Mahalath Leannoth, a Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.1O LORD, God of my salvation, I cried out by day; in the night I stood before you.2Let my prayer come before your face; incline your ear to my cry.3For my soul is filled with distresses, and my life has reached to Sheol.4I have been counted among those descending to the pit; I have become like a man who has no strength.5I am set free among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no longer, and who have been cut off from your hand.6You have placed me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the depths.7Your rage has pressed upon me, and you have afflicted me with all your waves. Selah.8You have removed my acquaintances far from me; you have made me an object of abomination to them; I am shut in and cannot come out.9My eye has languished because of affliction; I have called to you, O LORD, every day; I have spread out my palms to you.10Will you perform a wonder for the dead? If the shades rise up, will they give you thanks? Selah.11Is your kindness declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Abaddon?12Is your wonder known in the darkness, and your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?13But I have cried to you, O LORD, and in the morning my prayer comes to meet you.14Why, O LORD, do you cast off my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?15I am afflicted and at the point of death from my youth; I have borne your terrors and am distraught.16Your burning angers have passed over me; your terrors have destroyed me.17They have surrounded me like water all day long; they have closed in upon me altogether.18You have removed my lover and my neighbor far from me; my acquaintances are in darkness.