Psalms 88
1 A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Suffering of Affliction.” A contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite. LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.
A song, a psalm of the sons of Korah; for the chief musician; set to the Mahalath Leannoth style. A maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. Yahweh, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.
Listen to my prayer; pay attention to my cry.
For I am filled with troubles, and my life has reached Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,
People treat me like those who go down into the pit; I am a man with no strength.
5 set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand.
I am abandoned among the dead; I am like the dead who lie in the grave, about whom you care no more because they are cut off from your power.
6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
You place me in the lowest part of the pit, in the dark and deep places.
7 Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. (Selah)
Your wrath lies heavy on me, and all your waves crash over me. (Selah)
8 You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can’t escape.
Because of you, my acquaintances avoid me. You have made me a shocking sight to them. I am hemmed in and I cannot escape.
9 My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, LORD. I have spread out my hands to you.
My eyes grow weary from trouble; All day long I call out to you, Yahweh; I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? (Selah)
Will you do wonders for the dead? Will those who have died rise and praise you? (Selah)
11 Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
Will your covenant faithfulness be proclaimed in the grave, your loyalty in the place of the dead?
12 Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Will your wonderful deeds be known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the place of forgetfulness?
13 But to you, LORD, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
But I cry to you, Yahweh; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 LORD, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?
Yahweh, why do you reject me? Why do you hide your face from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.
I have always been afflicted and on the verge of death since my youth. I have suffered from your terrors; I am in despair.
16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
Your angry actions have passed over me, and your terrifying deeds have annihilated me.
17 They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
They surround me like water all the day long; they have all encircled me.
18 You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
You have removed every friend and acquaintance from me. My only acquaintance is the darkness.
