| Chapter text (World English Bible version) |  |
This is a Psalm of Heman the Ezrahite. He appears to be in great distress and appeals to God for help. | |
1 LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you. 2 Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry. 3 For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol.* 4 I am counted amongst those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help, * Sheol is the place of the dead. | How does the psalmist describe his cry to God and his troubled soul? |
5 set apart amongst the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand. 6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. 7 Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. | How does he describe himself as being among the dead and overwhelmed by God’s wrath? |
8 You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can’t escape. 9 My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, LORD. I have spread out my hands to you. 10 Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? | What does the psalmist say about being cut off from friends and shut in by grief? |
11 Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction? 12 Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? | What questions does he ask about God’s love and wonders being declared in the grave? |
13 But to you, LORD, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you. 14 LORD, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me? | What does the psalmist ask God about why his prayers seem unanswered? |
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted. 16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off. 17 They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me. 18 You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness. | How does the psalmist describe his lifelong suffering and loneliness? |
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