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 psalm of the sons of Korah. For the leader of the music. Upon wind instruments. A psalm of Heman, the Ezrahite.” O LORD, God of my salvation! To thee do I cry by day, And by night is my prayer before thee!
2 Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.
Let my supplication come before thee; Incline thine ear to my cry!
For my soul is full of misery, And my life draweth near to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,
I am counted with those who are going down to the pit; I am like one who hath 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 left to myself among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom thou no more rememberest, And who are cut off from thy [[protecting]] hand.
6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
Thou hast placed me in a deep pit, In a dark and deep abyss.
7 Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. (Selah)
Thy wrath presseth hard upon me, And thou afflictest me with all thy waves! (Pause)
8 You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I cannot escape.
Thou hast put mine acquaintances far from me, Yea, thou hast made me their abhorrence: I am shut up, and cannot go forth.
9 My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, LORD. I have spread out my hands to you.
Mine eyes languish by reason of my affliction. I call upon thee daily, O LORD! To thee do I stretch out my hands!
10 Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? (Selah)
Canst thou show wonders to the dead? Shall the dead arise, and praise thee? (Pause)
11 Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
Shall thy goodness be declared in the grave, Or thy faithfulness in the place of corruption?
12 Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Shall thy wonders be known in the dark, And thy justice in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But to you, LORD, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
To thee do I cry, O LORD! In the morning doth my cry come before thee.
14 LORD, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?
Why, O LORD! dost thou cast me off? Why hidest thou thy 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 been afflicted and languishing from my youth; I suffer thy terrors, and am distracted.
16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
Thy fierce wrath overwhelmeth me; Thy terrors utterly destroy me.
17 They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
They surround me daily like water; They compass me about together.
18 You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
Lover and friend hast thou put far from me; My acquaintances are withdrawn from my sight.
