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, 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 enter into your presence. Turn your ear to 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 amongst those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,
I am counted with those who go down to the pit; without strength am I.
5 set apart amongst the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. 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 lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
In the deepest pit you have put me, in shadows deep and dark.
7 Your wrath lies heavily on me. 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 taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can’t escape.
You have put my friends far from me, you have made them shun me. I am shut in, and cannot escape,
9 My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, LORD. I have spread out my hands to you.
my eyes are wasted with sorrow. I call on you, Lord, every day, spreading my hands out to you.
10 Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? (Selah)
For the dead can you work wonders? Can the shades rise again to praise you? (Selah)
11 Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
Can your kindness be told in the grave, your faithfulness in the tomb?
12 Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or 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 to you, LORD, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
I cry for help to you, in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 LORD, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide 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 has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
The fires of your wrath have passed over me, your terrors destroy me,
17 They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
surging around me forever, hemming me in altogether.
18 You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
Those who love me you put far from me; the dark is my only friend.
