Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
1 A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, my God, I call for help by day; I cry out in the night before thee.
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LORD, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.
2 Let my prayer come before thee, incline thy ear to my cry!
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May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
3 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.
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I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death.
4 I am reckoned among those who go down to the Pit; I am a man who has no strength,
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I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength.
5 like one forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom thou dost remember no more, for they are cut off from thy hand.
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I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
6 Thou hast put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep.
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You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
7 Thy wrath lies heavy upon me, and thou dost overwhelm me with all thy waves. [Selah]
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Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
8 Thou hast caused my companions to shun me; thou hast made me a thing of horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape;
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You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;
9 my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon thee, O LORD; I spread out my hands to thee.
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my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
10 Dost thou work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise thee? [Selah]
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Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you?
11 Is thy steadfast love declared in the grave, or thy faithfulness in Abaddon?
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Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction ?
12 Are thy wonders known in the darkness, or thy saving help in the land of forgetfulness?
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Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13 But I, O LORD, cry to thee; in the morning my prayer comes before thee.
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But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 O LORD, why dost thou cast me off? Why dost thou hide thy face from me?
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Why, LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer thy terrors; I am helpless.
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From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
16 Thy wrath has swept over me; thy dread assaults destroy me.
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Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
17 They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in upon me together.
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All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.
18 Thou hast caused lover and friend to shun me; my companions are in darkness.
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You have taken from me friend and neighbor— darkness is my closest friend.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.