The darkest psalm, the only lament with no turn. Heman the Ezrahite cries day and night: 'my soul is full of troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto Sheol.' Laid in the lowest pit; 'thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them.' The desperate questions: 'Wilt thou show wonders to the dead?… Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave?' From youth up afflicted and ready to die. The last word of the psalm is darkness, left in the canon so the praying church would have words for its blackest nights.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Poetry · David, Asaph, Sons of Korah, others — Psalms overview

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Psalms 313 verses
- Psalms 31:2Incline Your ear to me; come quickly to my rescue. Be my rock of refuge, the stronghold of my deliverance.
- Psalms 31:11Among all my enemies I am a disgrace, and among my neighbors even more. I am dreaded by my friends— they flee when they see me on the street.
- Psalms 31:22In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from Your sight!” But You heard my plea for mercy when I called to You for help.
- Read Psalms 31 →
Psalms 862 verses
- Psalms 86:3Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I call to You all day long.
- Psalms 86:13For great is Your loving devotion to me; You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol.
- Read Psalms 86 →
Psalms 222 verses
- Psalms 22:2I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest.
- Psalms 22:16For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.
- Read Psalms 22 →
Lamentations 32 verses
- Lamentations 3:8Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer.
- Lamentations 3:15He has filled me with bitterness; He has intoxicated me with wormwood.
- Read Lamentations 3 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Isaiah 382 verses
- Isaiah 38:17Surely for my own welfare I had such great anguish; but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
- Isaiah 38:18For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.
- Read Isaiah 38 →
Isaiah 532 verses
- Isaiah 53:8By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was stricken for the transgression of My people.
- Isaiah 53:10Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
- Read Isaiah 53 →
Psalms 692 verses
- Psalms 69:1Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.
- Psalms 69:15Do not let the floods engulf me or the depths swallow me up; let not the Pit close its mouth over me.
- Read Psalms 69 →
Psalms 382 verses
- Psalms 38:10My heart pounds, my strength fails, and even the light of my eyes has faded.
- Psalms 38:11My beloved and friends shun my disease, and my kinsmen stand at a distance.
- Read Psalms 38 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.