Psalms 88
1 O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you:
A Song, a psalm of the Korahites. To the leader: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O Lord my God, I cry for help in the day-time, in the night my cry is before you;
2 Let my prayer come before you: incline your ear unto my cry;
let my prayer come into your presence, incline your ear to my cry.
For I am sated with sorrow, my life draws near to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that has no strength:
I am counted with those who go down to the pit; without strength am I.
5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom you remember no more: and they are cut off from your hand.
My home is among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom you remember no more cut off as they are from your hand.
6 You have laid me in the low pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
In the deepest pit you have put me, in shadows deep and dark.
7 Your wrath lies hard upon me, and you have afflicted me with all your waves. (Selah)
Your wrath lies heavy upon me, waves of your anger roll over me. (Selah)
8 You have put away mine acquaintance far from me; you have made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
You have put my friends far from me, you have made them shun me. I am shut in, and cannot escape,
9 Mine eye mourns by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon you, I have stretched out my hands unto you.
my eyes are wasted with sorrow. I call on you, Lord, every day, spreading my hands out to you.
10 Will you show wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise you? (Selah)
For the dead can you work wonders? Can the shades rise again to praise you? (Selah)
11 Shall your loving kindness be declared in the grave? or your faithfulness in destruction?
Can your kindness be told in the grave, your faithfulness in the tomb?
12 Shall your wonders be known in the dark? and your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Can your wonders be known in the darkness, or your help in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But unto you have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent you.
I cry for help to you, in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 LORD, why cast you off my soul? why hide you your face from me?
Why, O Lord, do you spurn me, and hide your face from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer your terrors I am distracted.
From my youth I am wretched and dying, I am numbed by the terrors I bear.
16 Your fierce wrath goes over me; your terrors have cut me off.
The fires of your wrath have passed over me, your terrors destroy me,
17 They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
surging around me forever, hemming me in altogether.
18 Lover and friend have you put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
Those who love me you put far from me; the dark is my only friend.
