Psalms 88
1 A song of a Psalm for the sons of Core for the end, upon Maeleth for responsive [strains], of instruction for Aeman the Israelite. O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried by day and in the night before thee.
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.
2 Let my prayer come in before thee; incline thine ear to my supplication, O Lord.
May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry.
For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I have been reckoned with them that go down to the pit; I became as a man without help;
I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength.
5 free among the dead, as the slain ones cast out, who sleep in the tomb; whom thou rememberest no more; and they are rejected from thy hand.
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.
6 They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths.
7 Thy wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and thou hast brought upon me all thy billows. (Pause)
Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me.
8 Thou hast removed my acquaintance far from me; they have made me an abomination to themselves; I have been delivered up, and have not gone forth.
You have removed my friends from me; You have made me repulsive to them; I am confined and cannot escape.
9 Mine eyes are dimmed from poverty; but I cried to thee, O Lord, all the day; I spread forth my hands to thee.
My eyes grow dim with grief. I call to You daily, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You.
10 Wilt thou work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise thee?
Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You?
11 Shall any one declare thy mercy in the tomb? and thy truth in destruction?
Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in darkness? and thy righteousness in a forgotten land?
Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
13 But I cried to thee, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14 Wherefore, O Lord, dost thou reject my prayer, [and] turn thy face away from me?
Why, O LORD, do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me?
15 I am poor and in troubles from my youth; and having been exalted, I was brought low and into despair.
From my youth I was afflicted and near death. I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair.
16 Thy wrath has passed over me; and thy terrors have greatly disquieted me.
Your wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me.
17 They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side.
18 Thou hast put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
You have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion.
