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 thee.
A song, a psalm of the sons of Korah; for the chief musician; set to the Mahalath Leannoth style. A maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. Yahweh, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer come in before thee; incline thine ear to my supplication, O Lord.
Listen to my prayer; pay attention to my cry.
For I am filled with troubles, and my life has reached Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I have been reckoned with them that go down to the pit; I became as a man without help;
People treat me like those who go down into the pit; I am a man with no strength.
5 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.
I am abandoned among the dead; I am like the dead who lie in the grave, about whom you care no more because they are cut off from your power.
6 They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
You place me in the lowest part of the pit, in the dark and deep places.
7 Thy wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and thou hast brought upon me all thy billows. (Pause)
Your wrath lies heavy on me, and all your waves crash over me. (Selah)
8 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.
Because of you, my acquaintances avoid me. You have made me a shocking sight to them. I am hemmed in and I cannot escape.
9 Mine eyes are dimmed from poverty; but I cried to thee, O Lord, all the day; I spread forth my hands to thee.
My eyes grow weary from trouble; All day long I call out to you, Yahweh; I spread out my hands to you.
10 Wilt thou work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise thee?
Will you do wonders for the dead? Will those who have died rise and praise you? (Selah)
11 Shall any one declare thy mercy in the tomb? and thy truth in destruction?
Will your covenant faithfulness be proclaimed in the grave, your loyalty in the place of the dead?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in darkness? and thy righteousness in a forgotten land?
Will your wonderful deeds be known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the place of forgetfulness?
13 But I cried to thee, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
But I cry to you, Yahweh; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Wherefore, O Lord, dost thou reject my prayer, [and] turn thy face away from me?
Yahweh, why do you reject me? Why do you hide your 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 have always been afflicted and on the verge of death since my youth. I have suffered from your terrors; I am in despair.
16 Thy wrath has passed over me; and thy terrors have greatly disquieted me.
Your angry actions have passed over me, and your terrifying deeds have annihilated me.
17 They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
They surround me like water all the day long; they have all encircled me.
18 Thou hast put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
You have removed every friend and acquaintance from me. My only acquaintance is the darkness.
