Psalms 88
1 A Song, a Melody. For the Sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. On "Mahalath." For alternate Song. An Instructive Psalm. By Heman the Ezrahite. O Yahweh, God of my salvation, By day, have I made outcry, In the night, [also] before thee.
A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korah. For the music director. To the tune “Mahalath Leannoth.” A maskil by Heman the Ezrahite Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you day and night.
2 Let my prayer, come into thy presence, Bow down thine ear to my loud cry.
Please listen to my prayer; hear my words as I plead with you.
My life is full of troubles, and my death is approaching. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted with them who descend into the pit, I have become as a man that is without help;
I'm counted among the dying; a man with no strength.
5 Among the dead, is my couch, —Like the slain that lie in the grave, Where thou rememberest them no more, Yea, they, from thy hand, are cut off;
I am abandoned among the dead, lying like a corpse in the grave, forgotten and beyond your care.
6 Thou hast laid me, In the lowest pit, In dark places, In the deeps:
You have placed me in a deep pit, in the depths of darkness.
7 Upon me, hath rested thine indignation, And, with all thy breakers, hast thou caused affliction. (Selah)
Your hostility crushes me; you are drowning me under your crashing waves. (Selah)
8 Thou hast far removed mine acquaintances from me, —Thou hast made me an abomination unto them, Shut up, and I cannot go forth!
You have made my friends avoid me by making me look repulsive to them. I'm trapped, I can't go out.
9 Mine eye, hath dimmed through affliction; I have called upon thee, O Yahweh, all day long, I have spread out, unto thee, my hands.
I've cried my eyes out begging you every day for your help, Lord, holding out my hands to you.
10 For the dead, wilt thou perform a wonder? Or shall, the shades, arising, give thee thanks? (Selah)
Do you do miracles among the dead? Do the dead stand up to praise you? (Selah)
11 Shall Thy lovingkindness be recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness, in destruction?
Your faithful love—is it mentioned in the grave? Your trustworthiness—is it discussed in the place of destruction?
12 Shall any wonder of thine, be known in the dark? Or, thy righteousness, in the land of forgetfulness?
Are the wonderful things you do known in the darkness? Is your goodness known in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But, I, unto thee, O Yahweh, have cried for help, And, in the morning, my prayer will confront thee!
But I cry out to you for help; every morning I pray to you.
14 Wherefore, O Yahweh, shouldst thou reject my soul? shouldst thou hide thy face from me?
Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn away from me?
15 Afflicted have I been, and dying, from youth, I have borne the terror of thee—I shall be distracted!
I have been sick since I was young, often at death's door. I have had to bear the terrible things you've done to me. I'm in despair!
16 Over me, have passed thy bursts of burning anger, The alarms of thee have put an end to me;
Your anger has overcome me; the terrible things you do have destroyed me.
17 They have surrounded me like waters, all the day, They have come circling against me together:
They surround me all the time like floodwaters, swallowing me up.
18 Thou hast far removed from me, lover and friend, Mine acquaintances, are in darkness.
You have made my family and friends avoid me. Darkness is my only friend.
