13 The prefixed verbal forms in v. 8 are probably preterites; the psalmist recalls that he prayed in his time of crisis.
14 The following two verses (vv. 9–10) contain the prayer (or an excerpt of the prayer) that the psalmist offered to the Lord during his crisis.
15 Heb “What profit [is there] in my blood?” “Blood” here represents his life.
16 The Hebrew term שָׁחַת (shakhat, “pit”) is often used as a title for Sheol (see Pss 16:10; 49:9; 55:24; 103:4).
17 Heb “dust.” The words “of the grave” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
18 The rhetorical questions anticipate the answer, “Of course not!” According to the OT, those who descend into the realm of death/Sheol are cut off from God’s mighty deeds and from the worshiping covenant community that experiences divine intervention (Pss 6:5; 88:10–12; Isa 38:18). In his effort to elicit a positive divine response, the psalmist reminds God that he will receive no praise or glory if he allows the psalmist to die. Dead men do not praise God!
19 Heb “be a helper to me.”
20 Covered me with joy. “Joy” probably stands metonymically for festive attire here.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

To you, O Lord, I cry,

and to the Lord I plead for mercy:

“What profit is there in my death,

if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it tell of your faithfulness?

Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!

O Lord, be my helper!”

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

you have loosed my sackcloth

and clothed me with gladness,

NIVNew International Version (2011)

To you, Lord, I called;

to the Lord I cried for mercy:

“What is gained if I am silenced,

if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;

Lord, be my help.”

You turned my wailing into dancing;

you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Lord, I called to you;

I sought favor from my Lord:

“What gain is there in my death,

if I go down to the Pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it proclaim your truth?

Lord, listen and be gracious to me;

Lord, be my helper.”

You turned my lament into dancing;

you removed my sackcloth

and clothed me with gladness,

NLTNew Living Translation

I cried out to you, O Lord.

I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,

“What will you gain if I die,

if I sink into the grave?

Can my dust praise you?

Can it tell of your faithfulness?

Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.

Help me, O Lord.”

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.

You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

To you, O Yahweh, I called,

and to the Lord I pleaded for grace saying,

“What gain is there in my death,

in my going down into the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it tell of your faithfulness?

“O Yahweh, hear and be gracious to me.

O Yahweh, be my helper.”

You have turned my wailing into my dancing.

You have removed my sackcloth

and clothed me with joy

KJV 1900King James Version

I cried to thee, O Lord;

And unto the Lord I made supplication.

What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit?

Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me:

Lord, be thou my helper.

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing:

Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

Public Domain