A Poem, A Psalm for the sons of Qoraĥ, to the chief Musician upon Maĥalat Le῾annot, A Maskil of Heman the Ezraĥite.

A song, a psalm of the sons of Korach, for the conductor, on the sick [(with love)] and the afflicted [(with the afflictions of exile)], a maskil for [rendition by] Heman the Ezrachite.

O Lord God of my salvation, when I cry in the night before Thee:

O L rd, G d of my salvation, I cried out [to You all] day, [and] at night [I am readied with prayer] before You.

let my prayer come before Thee: incline Thy ear to my cry;

Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my song.

for my soul is sated with evils: and my life draws near to She᾽ol.

For my [(Israel's)] soul has been sated with ills and [the days of] my life have reached unto Sheol.

I am reckoned with those who go down into the pit: I am like a man who has no strength:

I have been reckoned as those who descend to the pit. I have been as a man without strength.

free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom Thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from Thy hand.

[I am reckoned] among the dead, who are free [(of the world)], as the slain, inhabitants of the grave, whom You did not yet remember [(with the resurrection)], who are cut off [(from the world)] by [the blows of] Your hand.

Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

You have placed me in the nethermost pit [(the exile)], in the darkness and the depths.

Thy wrath lies hard upon me, and Thou dost overwhelm me with all Thy waves. (Sela.)

Your wrath has rested upon me and You have afflicted me forever with all of Your breakers.

Thou hast put away my acquaintances far from me; Thou hast made me an abomination to them: I am shut up, and I cannot come out.

You have removed my companions from me. You have made me despicable to them [(to the peoples, who heretofore had held me in esteem)]. [I am imprisoned and cannot go out.]

My eye is dim by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon Thee, I have stretched out my hands to Thee.

My eye is sad with affliction. I have called You, O L rd, every day; I have spread out my palms before You.

Wilt Thou show wonders to the dead? shall the shades arise and praise Thee? (Sela.)

Would you work wonders for the dead! [(i.e., for the wicked, who are called "dead" in their lifetimes)] Will the shades [(refa'im, those who "weakened" [ripu] their hands from Torah)] arise and praise You forever?

Shall Thy steadfast love be reported in the grave? or Thy faithfulness in Avaddon?

[(If we perish at the hands of our enemies)] will Your lovingkindnesses be told in the grave? Your faithfulness in the waste [(i.e., in the grave)]?

Shall Thy wonders be known in the dark? and Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

Will Your wonders be known in the darkness [i.e., the grave]? Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

But to Thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer attend Thee.

Have I not cried out to You, O L rd? Has my prayer not come before You each morning?

Lord, why dost Thou cast off my soul? why dost Thou hide Thy face from me?

Why, O L rd, do You abandon my soul [to the foe]? [Why do] You conceal Your countenance from me?

I am afflicted and close to death from my youth up. I suffer Thy terrors, I am numb.

I am afflicted and expiring in suffocation; Your fright has been resident [within me].

Thy fierce wrath goes over me; Thy terrors have cut me off.

Your ire has passed over me; Your terrors have cut me off.

They come round about me daily like water; they compass me about together.

They encircle me like water all of the day; they encompass me together.

Friend and companion hast Thou put far from me, my acquaintances are in darkness.

You have removed from me lover and friend; my companions have darkened [i.e., they have faded from me].