Psalms 88
1 A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You.
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 May my prayer come before You; incline Your 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 among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength.
I am counted with those who go down to the pit; without strength am I.
5 I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care.
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 You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths.
In the deepest pit you have put me, in shadows deep and dark.
7 Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me.
Your wrath lies heavy upon me, waves of your anger roll over me. (Selah)
8 You have removed my friends from me; You have made me repulsive to them; I am confined and cannot escape.
You have put my friends far from me, you have made them shun me. I am shut in, and cannot escape,
9 My eyes grow dim with grief. I call to You daily, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You.
my eyes are wasted with sorrow. I call on you, Lord, every day, spreading my hands out to you.
10 Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You?
For the dead can you work wonders? Can the shades rise again to praise you? (Selah)
11 Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon?
Can your kindness be told in the grave, your faithfulness in the tomb?
12 Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
Can your wonders be known in the darkness, or your help in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You.
I cry for help to you, in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Why, O LORD, do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me?
Why, O Lord, do you spurn me, and hide your face from me?
15 From my youth I was afflicted and near death. I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair.
From my youth I am wretched and dying, I am numbed by the terrors I bear.
16 Your wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me.
The fires of your wrath have passed over me, your terrors destroy me,
17 All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side.
surging around me forever, hemming me in altogether.
18 You have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion.
Those who love me you put far from me; the dark is my only friend.
