Psalms 88
1 A Canticle Psalm to the sons of Korah. Unto the end. For Mahalath, to answer the understanding of Heman the Ezrahite. O Lord, God of my salvation: I have cried out, day and night, in your presence.
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 in your sight. Incline your ear to my petition.
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 considered to be among those who will descend into the pit. I have become like a man without assistance,
I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without strength.
5 idle among the dead. I am like the wounded sleeping in sepulchers, whom you no longer remember, and who have been repelled by 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 They have lain me in the lower pit: in dark places and in the shadow of death.
Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
7 Your fury has been confirmed over me. And you have brought all your waves upon me.
Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And [with] all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. (Selah)
8 You have sent my acquaintances far from me. They have set me as an abomination to themselves. I was handed over, yet I did not depart.
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 languished before destitution. All day long, I cried out to you, O Lord. I stretched 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 Will you perform wonders for the dead? Or will physicians raise to life, and so confess to you?
To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? (Selah)
11 Could anyone declare your mercy in the sepulcher, or your truth from within perdition?
Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Will your wonders be known in the darkness, or your justice in the land of oblivion?
Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 And I have cried out to you, O Lord, and in early morning, my prayer will come 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 prayer? Why do you turn your face away from me?
Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me.
15 I am poor, and I have been amid hardships from my youth. And, though I have been exalted, I am humbled and disturbed.
I [am] afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors — I pine away.
16 Your wrath has crossed into me, and your terrors have disturbed me.
Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,
17 They have surrounded me like water, all day long. They have surrounded me, all at once.
They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,
18 Friend and neighbor, and my acquaintances, you have sent far away from me, away from misery.
Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
