Psalms 88
1 A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
A Song, a psalm of the Korahites. To the leader: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O Lord my God, I cry for help in the day-time, in the night my cry is before you;
2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thy ear to my cry;
let my prayer come into your presence, incline your ear to my cry.
For I am sated with sorrow, my life draws near to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
I am counted with those who go down to the pit; without strength am I.
5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
My home is among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom you remember no more cut off as they are from your hand.
6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
In the deepest pit you have put me, in shadows deep and dark.
7 Thy wrath lieth heavy upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. (Selah)
Your wrath lies heavy upon me, waves of your anger roll over me. (Selah)
8 Thou hast put away my acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination to them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
You have put my friends far from me, you have made them shun me. I am shut in, and cannot escape,
9 My eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands to thee.
my eyes are wasted with sorrow. I call on you, Lord, every day, spreading my hands out to you.
10 Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? (Selah)
For the dead can you work wonders? Can the shades rise again to praise you? (Selah)
11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
Can your kindness be told in the grave, your faithfulness in the tomb?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Can your wonders be known in the darkness, or your help in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But to thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer come before thee.
I cry for help to you, in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
Why, O Lord, do you spurn me, and hide your face from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
From my youth I am wretched and dying, I am numbed by the terrors I bear.
16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
The fires of your wrath have passed over me, your terrors destroy me,
17 They came around me daily like water; they surrounded me together.
surging around me forever, hemming me in altogether.
18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and my acquaintance into darkness.
Those who love me you put far from me; the dark is my only friend.
