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, 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,
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 sated with 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 become as a man that hath no help;
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.
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.
6 They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
Thou hast laid me in the nethermost pit, in dark places, 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 all Thy waves Thou pressest down. (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 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 languisheth by reason of affliction; I have called upon Thee, O LORD, every day, I have spread forth 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 work wonders for the dead? Or shall the shades arise and give Thee thanks? (Selah)
11 Shall any one declare your mercy in the tomb? and your truth in destruction?
Shall Thy mercy 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 as for me, unto Thee, O LORD, do I cry, and in the morning doth my prayer come to meet 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 at the point of death from my youth up; I have borne Thy terrors, I am distracted.
16 Your wrath has passed over me; and your terrors have greatly disquieted me.
Thy fierce wrath is gone 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 like water all the day; they compassed me about together.
18 You have put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
Friend and companion hast Thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
