⁸ Let me hear what the Lord God says,
    because he speaks peace to his people and to his faithful ones.
    Don’t let them return to foolish ways.
⁹ God’s salvation is very close to those who honor him
    so that his glory can live in our land.
¹⁰ Faithful love and truth have met;
    righteousness and peace have kissed.
¹¹ Truth springs up from the ground;
    righteousness gazes down from heaven.
¹² Yes, the Lord gives what is good,
    and our land yields its produce.
¹³ Righteousness walks before God,
    making a road for his steps.

⁴ I am considered as one of those plummeting into the pit.
    I am like those who are beyond help,
⁵     drifting among the dead,
    lying in the grave, like dead bodies—
    those you don’t remember anymore,
    those who are cut off from your power.
⁶ You placed me down in the deepest pit,
    in places dark and deep.
⁷ Your anger smothers me;
    you subdue me with it, wave after wave. Selah
⁸ You’ve made my friends distant.
    You’ve made me disgusting to them.
    I can’t escape. I’m trapped!
⁹ My eyes are tired of looking at my suffering.
    I’ve been calling out to you every day, Lord—
    I’ve had my hands outstretched to you!

¹⁰ Do you work wonders for the dead?
    Do ghosts rise up and give you thanks? Selah

¹¹ Is your faithful love proclaimed in the grave,
    your faithfulness in the underworld?^[e]
12 Are your wonders known in the land of darkness,
    your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

¹³ But I cry out to you, Lord!
    My prayer meets you first thing in the morning!
¹⁴ Why do you reject my very being, Lord?
    Why do you hide your face from me?
¹⁵ Since I was young I’ve been afflicted, I’ve been dying.
    I’ve endured your terrors. I’m lifeless.
¹⁶ Your fiery anger has overwhelmed me;
    your terrors have destroyed me.
¹⁷ They surround me all day long like water;
    they engulf me completely.
¹⁸ You’ve made my loved ones and companions distant.
    My only friend is darkness.