A Prayer for Help in Despondency

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A Contemplation^[a] of Heman the Ezrahite.

88 O Lord, God of my salvation,I have cried out day and night before You.² Let my prayer come before You;Incline Your ear to my cry.

³ For my soul is full of troubles,And my life draws near to the grave.⁴ I am counted with those who go down to the pit;I am like a man who has no strength,⁵ Adrift among the dead,Like the slain who lie in the grave,Whom You remember no more,And who are cut off from Your hand.

⁶ You have laid me in the lowest pit,In darkness, in the depths.⁷ Your wrath lies heavy upon me,And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah⁸ You have put away my acquaintances far from me;You have made me an abomination to them;I am shut up, and I cannot get out;⁹ My eye wastes away because of affliction.

Lord, I have called daily upon You;I have stretched out my hands to You.¹⁰ Will You work wonders for the dead?Shall the dead arise and praise You? Selah¹¹ Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave?Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction?¹² Shall Your wonders be known in the dark?And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

¹³ But to You I have cried out, O Lord,And in the morning my prayer comes before You.¹⁴ Lord, why do You cast off my soul?Why do You hide Your face from me?¹⁵ I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth;I suffer Your terrors;I am distraught.¹⁶ Your fierce wrath has gone over me;Your terrors have cut me off.¹⁷ They came around me all day long like water;They engulfed me altogether.¹⁸ Loved one and friend You have put far from me,And my acquaintances into darkness.