Psalms, 87
A prayer of one under grievous affliction: it agrees to Christ in his passion, and alludes to his death and burial.
Domine, Deus salutis.
[1] A canticle of a psalm for the sons of Core: unto the end, for Maheleth 1, to answer understanding 2 of Eman the Ezrahite. •
Maheleth: A musical instrument, or chorus of musicians, to answer one another.
Understanding: Or a psalm of instruction, composed by Eman the Ezrahite, or by David, in his name.
[2] O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the day, and in the night before thee. •
[3] Let my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my petition. •
[4] For my soul is filled with evils: and my life hath drawn nigh to hell. •
[5] I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a man without help, •
[6] Free among the dead. Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. •
[7] They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death. •
[8] Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in upon me. •
[9] Thou hast put away my acquaintance far from me: they have set me an abomination to themselves. I was delivered up, and came not forth: •
[10] My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee. •
[11] Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee? •
[12] Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth in destruction?
[13] Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the land of forgetfulness? •
[14] But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee.
[15] Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy face from me? •
[16] I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have been humbled and troubled. •
[17] Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me. •
[18] They have come round about me like water all the day: they have compassed me about together.
[19] Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery. •