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 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.
2 Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.
Let my prayer, come into thy presence, Bow down thine ear to my loud cry.
For my soul, is sated with misfortunes, And, my life—unto Hades, hath drawn near; (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 them who descend into the pit, I have become as a man that is without help;
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.
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;
6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
Thou hast laid me, In the lowest pit, In dark places, In the deeps:
7 Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. (Selah)
Upon me, hath rested thine indignation, And, with all thy breakers, hast thou caused affliction. (Selah)
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 far removed mine acquaintances from me, —Thou hast made me an abomination unto them, Shut up, and I 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 eye, hath dimmed through affliction; I have called upon thee, O Yahweh, all day long, I have spread out, unto thee, my hands.
10 Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? (Selah)
For the dead, wilt thou perform a wonder? Or shall, the shades, arising, give thee thanks? (Selah)
11 Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
Shall Thy lovingkindness be recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness, in destruction?
12 Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Shall any wonder of thine, be known in the dark? Or, thy righteousness, in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But to you, LORD, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
But, I, unto thee, O Yahweh, have cried for help, And, in the morning, my prayer will confront thee!
14 LORD, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?
Wherefore, O Yahweh, shouldst thou reject my soul? shouldst thou hide thy face from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.
Afflicted have I been, and dying, from youth, I have borne the terror of thee—I shall be distracted!
16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
Over me, have passed thy bursts of burning anger, The alarms of thee have put an end to me;
17 They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
They have surrounded me like waters, all the day, They have come circling against me together:
18 You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
Thou hast far removed from me, lover and friend, Mine acquaintances, are in darkness.
