Psalms 88
1 A canticle of a psalm for the sons of Core: unto the end, for Maheleth, to answer understanding of Eman the Ezrahite. O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the day, and in the night before thee.
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.
2 Let my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my petition.
Let my prayer come in before you; incline your ear to my supplication, O Lord.
For my soul is filled with troubles, and my life has drawn near to Hades. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a man without help,
I have been reckoned with them that go down to the pit; I became as a man without help;
5 Free among the dead. Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cast off from thy hand.
free amongst 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.
6 They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death.
They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
7 Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in upon me.
Your wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and you have brought upon me all your billows. (Pause)
8 Thou hast put away my acquaintance far from me: they have set me an abomination to themselves. I was delivered up, and came not forth:
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.
9 My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee.
Mine eyes are dimmed from poverty; but I cried to you, O Lord, all the day; I spread forth my hands to you.
10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee?
Will you work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise you?
11 Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth in destruction?
Shall any one declare your mercy in the tomb? and your truth in destruction?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the land of forgetfulness?
Shall your wonders be known in darkness? and your righteousness in a forgotten land?
13 But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee.
But I cried to you, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent you.
14 Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy face from me?
Therefore, O Lord, do you reject my prayer, [and] turn your face away from me?
15 I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have been humbled and troubled.
I am poor and in troubles from my youth; and having been exalted, I was brought low and into despair.
16 Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me.
Your wrath has passed over me; and your terrors have greatly disquieted me.
17 They have come round about me like water all the day: they have compassed me about together.
They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
18 Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery.
You have put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
