Psalms 88
1 A canticle of a psalm for the sons of Core: unto the end, for Maheleth, to answer understanding of Eman the Ezrahite. O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the day, and in the night before thee.
A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korah. For the music director. To the tune “Mahalath Leannoth.” A maskil by Heman the Ezrahite Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you day and night.
2 Let my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my petition.
Please listen to my prayer; hear my words as I plead with you.
My life is full of troubles, and my death is approaching. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a man without help,
I'm counted among the dying; a man with no strength.
5 Free among the dead. Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cast off from thy hand.
I am abandoned among the dead, lying like a corpse in the grave, forgotten and beyond your care.
6 They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death.
You have placed me in a deep pit, in the depths of darkness.
7 Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in upon me.
Your hostility crushes me; you are drowning me under your crashing waves. (Selah)
8 Thou hast put away my acquaintance far from me: they have set me an abomination to themselves. I was delivered up, and came not forth:
You have made my friends avoid me by making me look repulsive to them. I'm trapped, I can't go out.
9 My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee.
I've cried my eyes out begging you every day for your help, Lord, holding out my hands to you.
10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee?
Do you do miracles among the dead? Do the dead stand up to praise you? (Selah)
11 Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth in destruction?
Your faithful love—is it mentioned in the grave? Your trustworthiness—is it discussed in the place of destruction?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the land of forgetfulness?
Are the wonderful things you do known in the darkness? Is your goodness known in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee.
But I cry out to you for help; every morning I pray to you.
14 Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy face from me?
Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn away from me?
15 I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have been humbled and troubled.
I have been sick since I was young, often at death's door. I have had to bear the terrible things you've done to me. I'm in despair!
16 Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me.
Your anger has overcome me; the terrible things you do have destroyed me.
17 They have come round about me like water all the day: they have compassed me about together.
They surround me all the time like floodwaters, swallowing me up.
18 Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery.
You have made my family and friends avoid me. Darkness is my only friend.
