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 sons of Korah; for the Leader; upon Mahalath Leannoth. Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, God of my salvation, what time I cry in the night before Thee,
2 Let my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my petition.
Let my prayer come before Thee, incline Thine ear unto my cry.
For my soul is sated with troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a man without help,
I am counted with them that go down into the pit; I am become as a man that hath no help;
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.
Set apart among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom Thou rememberest no more; and they are cut off from Thy hand.
6 They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death.
Thou hast laid me in the nethermost pit, in dark places, in the deeps.
7 Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in upon me.
Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and all Thy waves Thou pressest down. (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:
Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me; Thou hast made me an abomination unto them; I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
9 My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee.
Mine eye languisheth by reason of affliction; I have called upon Thee, O LORD, every day, I have spread forth my hands unto Thee.
10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee?
Wilt Thou work wonders for the dead? Or shall the shades arise and give Thee thanks? (Selah)
11 Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth in destruction?
Shall Thy mercy be declared in the grave? or Thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the land of forgetfulness?
Shall Thy wonders be known in the dark? and Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee.
But as for me, unto Thee, O LORD, do I cry, and in the morning doth my prayer come to meet Thee.
14 Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy face from me?
LORD, why castest Thou off my soul? Why hidest Thou Thy face from me?
15 I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have been humbled and troubled.
I am afflicted and at the point of death from my youth up; I have borne Thy terrors, I am distracted.
16 Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me.
Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; Thy terrors have cut me off.
17 They have come round about me like water all the day: they have compassed me about together.
They came round about me like water all the day; they compassed me about together.
18 Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery.
Friend and companion hast Thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
