Psalms 88
1 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.
O Jehovah, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee.
2 Please listen to my prayer; hear my words as I plead with you.
Let my prayer enter into thy presence. Incline thine ear to my cry.
For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I'm counted among the dying; a man with no strength.
I am reckoned with those who go down into the pit. I am as a man who has no help,
5 I am abandoned among the dead, lying like a corpse in the grave, forgotten and beyond your care.
cast off among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom thou remember no more, and they are cut off from thy hand.
6 You have placed me in a deep pit, in the depths of darkness.
Thou have laid me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the deeps.
7 Your hostility crushes me; you are drowning me under your crashing waves. (Selah)
Thy wrath lays hard upon me, and thou have afflicted me with all thy waves. (Selah)
8 You have made my friends avoid me by making me look repulsive to them. I'm trapped, I can't go out.
Thou have put my acquaintances far from me. Thou have made me an abomination to them. I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
9 I've cried my eyes out begging you every day for your help, Lord, holding out my hands to you.
My eye wastes away because of affliction. I have called daily upon thee, O Jehovah, I have spread forth my hands to thee.
10 Do you do miracles among the dead? Do the dead stand up to praise you? (Selah)
Will thou show wonders to the dead? Shall those who are deceased arise and praise thee? (Selah)
11 Your faithful love—is it mentioned in the grave? Your trustworthiness—is it discussed in the place of destruction?
Shall thy loving kindness be declared in the grave, or thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Are the wonderful things you do known in the darkness? Is your goodness known in the land of forgetfulness?
Shall thy wonders be known in the dark, and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I cry out to you for help; every morning I pray to you.
But to thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, and in the morning my prayer shall come before thee.
14 Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn away from me?
Jehovah, why do thou cast off my soul? Why do thou hide thy face from me?
15 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!
I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer thy terrors I am confounded.
16 Your anger has overcome me; the terrible things you do have destroyed me.
Thy fierce wrath has gone over me. Thy terrors have cut me off.
17 They surround me all the time like floodwaters, swallowing me up.
They came round about me like water all the day long. They encompassed me around together.
18 You have made my family and friends avoid me. Darkness is my only friend.
Thou have put beloved and friend far from me, and my acquaintances into darkness.
