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, by sons of Korah, to the Overseer, 'Concerning the Sickness of Afflictions.' — An instruction, by Heman the Ezrahite. O Jehovah, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly before Thee,
2 Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.
My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,
For my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,
I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without 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.
Among the dead — free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom Thou hast not remembered any more, Yea, they by Thy hand have been cut off.
6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
7 Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. (Selah)
Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And [with] all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. (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 put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up — I go not 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 grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, 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)
To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? (Selah)
11 Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
Is Thy kindness 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?
Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But to you, LORD, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.
14 LORD, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?
Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest 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 [am] afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors — I pine away.
16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,
17 They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,
18 You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
