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 or psalm of the sons of Korach, to the chief musician upon Machalath-le'annoth, a Maskil of Heman the Ezrachite.” O Lord the God of my salvation, by day do I cry, [and] at night I am before thee.
2 Let my prayer come in before you; incline your ear to my supplication, O Lord.
Let my prayer come unto thy presence; incline thy ear unto my entreaty.
For my soul is sated with troubles; and my life draweth nigh unto the nether world. (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 those that descend into the pit; I am become as a man without vigor:
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 dwell in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more; and those that are cut off by 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 pit of the lower world, in darkness, in the depths.
7 Your wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and you have brought upon me all your billows. (Pause)
Upon me lieth heavily thy fury, and with all thy billows hast thou afflicted me. (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 removed my acquaintances far from me; thou hast rendered me an abomination unto them: I am imprisoned, and I cannot go 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.
My eye languisheth by reason of affliction: I call on thee, O Lord, every day, I stretch out unto thee my hands.
10 Will you work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise you?
Wilt thou display wonders to the dead? shall the departed arise [and] thank thee? (Selah)
11 Shall any one declare your mercy in the tomb? and your truth in destruction?
Shall thy kindness be related in the grave? thy faithfulness in the place of corruption?
12 Shall your wonders be known in darkness? and your righteousness in a forgotten land?
Shall thy wonders be acknowledged in the darkness? 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.
Yet I cry indeed aloud unto thee, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer come before thee.
14 Therefore, O Lord, do you reject my prayer, [and] turn your face away from me?
Why, O Lord, wilt thou cast off my soul? [why] wilt thou hide 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 perishing from my youth up: I bear thy terrors, I am distracted.
16 Your wrath has passed over me; and your terrors have greatly disquieted me.
Over me have the fires of thy wrath passed; thy terrors have destroyed me;
17 They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
They encompass me like water all the time; they have closed in round about me together.
18 You have put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
Thou hast removed far from me lover and friend, my acquaintances [are in] darkness.
