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, by sons of Korah, to the Overseer, 'Concerning the Sickness of Afflictions.' — An instruction, by Heman the Ezrahite. O Jehovah, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly before Thee,
2 Let my prayer come in before you; incline your ear to my supplication, O Lord.
My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,
For my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I have been reckoned with them that go down to the pit; I became as a man without help;
I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without 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.
Among the dead — free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom Thou hast not remembered any more, Yea, they by Thy hand have been cut off.
6 They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
7 Your wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and you have brought upon me all your billows. (Pause)
Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And [with] all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. (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 to them, Shut up — I go not 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 hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands.
10 Will you work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise you?
To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? (Selah)
11 Shall any one declare your mercy in the tomb? and your truth in destruction?
Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall your wonders be known in darkness? and your righteousness in a forgotten land?
Are Thy wonders known 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.
And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.
14 Therefore, O Lord, do you reject my prayer, [and] turn your face away from me?
Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest 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 expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors — I pine away.
16 Your wrath has passed over me; and your terrors have greatly disquieted me.
Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,
17 They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,
18 You have put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
