Psalms 88
1 A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Suffering of Affliction.” A contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite. LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.
A song of a Psalm for the sons of Core for the end, upon Maeleth for responsive [strains], of instruction for Aeman the Israelite. O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried by day and in the night before thee.
2 Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.
Let my prayer come in before thee; incline thine ear to my supplication, O Lord.
For my soul is filled with troubles, and my life has drawn nigh to Hades. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,
I have been reckoned with them that go down to the pit; I became as a man without help;
5 set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand.
free among the dead, as the slain ones cast out, who sleep in the tomb; whom thou rememberest no more; and they are rejected from thy hand.
6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
7 Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. (Selah)
Thy wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and thou hast brought upon me all thy billows. (Pause)
8 You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I cannot escape.
Thou hast removed my acquaintance far from me; they have made me an abomination to themselves; I have been delivered up, and have not gone forth.
9 My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, LORD. I have spread out my hands to you.
Mine eyes are dimmed from poverty; but I cried to thee, O Lord, all the day; I spread forth my hands to thee.
10 Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? (Selah)
Wilt thou work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise thee?
11 Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
Shall any one declare thy mercy in the tomb? and thy truth in destruction?
12 Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Shall thy wonders be known in darkness? and thy righteousness in a forgotten land?
13 But to you, LORD, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
But I cried to thee, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
14 LORD, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?
Wherefore, O Lord, dost thou reject my prayer, [and] turn thy face away from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.
I am poor and in troubles from my youth; and having been exalted, I was brought low and into despair.
16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
Thy wrath has passed over me; and thy terrors have greatly disquieted me.
17 They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
18 You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
Thou hast put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
