Psalms 88
1 A Song, a Psalm of the sons of Korah; for the Leader; upon Mahalath Leannoth. Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, God of my salvation, what time I cry in the night before Thee,
A SONG. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. TO THE OVERSEER. [SET] ON “SICKNESS TO AFFLICT.” AN INSTRUCTION OF HEMAN THE EZRAHITE. O YHWH, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly before You,
2 Let my prayer come before Thee, incline Thine ear unto my cry.
My prayer comes in before You, Incline Your ear to my loud cry,
For my soul has been full of evils, And my life has come to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit; I am become as a man that hath no help;
I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without strength.
5 Set apart among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom Thou rememberest no more; and they are cut off from Thy hand.
Among the dead—free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom You have not remembered anymore, Indeed, they have been cut off by Your hand.
6 Thou hast laid me in the nethermost pit, in dark places, in the deeps.
You have put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and all Thy waves Thou pressest down. (Selah)
Your fury has lain on me, And You have afflicted [with] all Your breakers. (Selah)
8 Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me; Thou hast made me an abomination unto them; I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
You have put my acquaintance far from me, You have made me an abomination to them, Shut up—I do not go forth.
9 Mine eye languisheth by reason of affliction; I have called upon Thee, O LORD, every day, I have spread forth my hands unto Thee.
My eye has grieved because of affliction, I called You, O YHWH, all the day, I have spread out my hands to You.
10 Wilt Thou work wonders for the dead? Or shall the shades arise and give Thee thanks? (Selah)
Do You do wonders to the dead? Does Rephaim rise? Do they thank You? (Selah)
11 Shall Thy mercy be declared in the grave? or Thy faithfulness in destruction?
Is Your kindness recounted in the grave? Your faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall Thy wonders be known in the dark? and Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Are Your wonders known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But as for me, unto Thee, O LORD, do I cry, and in the morning doth my prayer come to meet Thee.
And I, to You, O YHWH, I have cried, And in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14 LORD, why castest Thou off my soul? Why hidest Thou Thy face from me?
Why, O YHWH, do You cast off my soul? You hide Your face from me.
15 I am afflicted and at the point of death from my youth up; I have borne Thy terrors, I am distracted.
I [am] afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Your terrors—I pine away.
16 Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; Thy terrors have cut me off.
Your wrath has passed over me, Your terrors have cut me off,
17 They came round about me like water all the day; they compassed me about together.
They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone around against me together,
18 Friend and companion hast Thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
You have put lover and friend far from me, My acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
