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 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 Let my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my petition.
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 them that go down to the pit: I am become as a man without help,
I am counted with those who go down to the pit; without strength am I.
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.
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 They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death.
In the deepest pit you have put me, in shadows deep and dark.
7 Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in upon me.
Your wrath lies heavy upon me, waves of your anger roll over me. (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 put my friends far from me, you have made them shun me. I am shut in, and cannot escape,
9 My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee.
my eyes are wasted with sorrow. I call on you, Lord, every day, spreading my hands out to you.
10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee?
For the dead can you work wonders? Can the shades rise again to praise you? (Selah)
11 Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth in destruction?
Can your kindness be told in the grave, your faithfulness in the tomb?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the land of forgetfulness?
Can your wonders be known in the darkness, or your help in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee.
I cry for help to you, in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy face from me?
Why, O Lord, do you spurn me, and hide your face from me?
15 I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have been humbled and troubled.
From my youth I am wretched and dying, I am numbed by the terrors I bear.
16 Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me.
The fires of your wrath have passed over me, your terrors destroy me,
17 They have come round about me like water all the day: they have compassed me about together.
surging around me forever, hemming me in altogether.
18 Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery.
Those who love me you put far from me; the dark is my only friend.
