Psalms 88
1 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 you.
A Song [or] Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day [and] night before thee:
2 Let my prayer come in before you; incline your ear to my supplication, O Lord.
Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. (Sheol h7585)
4 I have been reckoned with them that go down to the pit; I became as a man without help;
I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man [that hath] no strength:
5 free among the dead, as the slain ones cast out, who sleep in the tomb; whom you remember no more; and they are rejected from your hand.
Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
6 They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
7 Your wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and you have brought upon me all your billows. (Pause)
Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted [me] with all thy waves. (Selah)
8 You have removed my acquaintance far from me; they have made me an abomination to themselves; I have been delivered up, and have not gone forth.
Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: [I am] shut up, and I cannot come forth.
9 Mine eyes are dimmed from poverty; but I cried to you, O Lord, all the day; I spread forth my hands to you.
Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
10 Will you work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise you?
Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise [and] praise thee? (Selah)
11 Shall any one declare your mercy in the tomb? and your truth in destruction?
Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? [or] thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall your wonders be known in darkness? and your righteousness in a forgotten land?
Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I cried to you, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent you.
But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
14 Therefore, O Lord, do you reject my prayer, [and] turn your face away from me?
LORD, why castest thou off my soul? [why] hidest thou thy face from me?
15 I am poor and in troubles from my youth; and having been exalted, I was brought low and into despair.
I [am] afflicted and ready to die from [my] youth up: [while] I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
16 Your wrath has passed over me; and your terrors have greatly disquieted me.
Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
17 They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
18 You have put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, [and] mine acquaintance into darkness.
