< 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, 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 come in before thee: incline thy ear to my petition.
My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,
3 For my soul is filled with evils: and my life hath drawn nigh to hell. (Sheol )
For my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come to Sheol. (Sheol )
4 I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a man without help,
I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without 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.
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 laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death.
Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
7 Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in upon me.
Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And [with] all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. (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 to them, Shut up — I go not 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 hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands.
10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee?
To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? (Selah)
11 Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth in destruction?
Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the land of forgetfulness?
Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? 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.
And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.
14 Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy face from me?
Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest 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 expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors — I pine away.
16 Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me.
Over me hath Thy wrath passed, 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 have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,
18 Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery.
Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!