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.
O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you:
2 Let my prayer come in before you; incline your ear to my supplication, O Lord.
Let my prayer come before you: incline your ear unto my cry;
For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draws 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 as a man that has no strength:
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.
Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom you remember no more: and they are cut off from your hand.
6 They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
You have laid me in the low pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
7 Your wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and you have brought upon me all your billows. (Pause)
Your wrath lies hard upon me, and you have afflicted me with all your waves. (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.
You have put away mine acquaintance far from me; you have 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 mourns by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon you, I have stretched out my hands unto you.
10 Will you work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise you?
Will you show wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise you? (Selah)
11 Shall any one declare your mercy in the tomb? and your truth in destruction?
Shall your loving kindness be declared in the grave? or your faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall your wonders be known in darkness? and your righteousness in a forgotten land?
Shall your wonders be known in the dark? and your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I cried to you, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent you.
But unto you have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent you.
14 Therefore, O Lord, do you reject my prayer, [and] turn your face away from me?
LORD, why cast you off my soul? why hide you 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 am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer your terrors I am distracted.
16 Your wrath has passed over me; and your terrors have greatly disquieted me.
Your fierce wrath goes over me; your terrors have cut me off.
17 They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
18 You have put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
Lover and friend have you put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
