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.
“A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the leader of the music. Upon wind instruments. A psalm of Heman, the Ezrahite.” O LORD, God of my salvation! To thee do I cry by day, And by night is my prayer before thee!
2 Please listen to my prayer; hear my words as I plead with you.
Let my supplication come before thee; Incline thine ear to my cry!
For my soul is full of misery, And my life draweth near to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
4 I'm counted among the dying; a man with no strength.
I am counted with those who are going down to the pit; I am like one who hath no strength.
5 I am abandoned among the dead, lying like a corpse in the grave, forgotten and beyond your care.
I am left to myself among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom thou no more rememberest, And who are cut off from thy [[protecting]] hand.
6 You have placed me in a deep pit, in the depths of darkness.
Thou hast placed me in a deep pit, In a dark and deep abyss.
7 Your hostility crushes me; you are drowning me under your crashing waves. (Selah)
Thy wrath presseth hard upon me, And thou afflictest me with all thy waves! (Pause)
8 You have made my friends avoid me by making me look repulsive to them. I'm trapped, I can't go out.
Thou hast put mine acquaintances far from me, Yea, thou hast made me their abhorrence: I am shut up, and cannot go forth.
9 I've cried my eyes out begging you every day for your help, Lord, holding out my hands to you.
Mine eyes languish by reason of my affliction. I call upon thee daily, O LORD! To thee do I stretch out my hands!
10 Do you do miracles among the dead? Do the dead stand up to praise you? (Selah)
Canst thou show wonders to the dead? Shall the dead arise, and praise thee? (Pause)
11 Your faithful love—is it mentioned in the grave? Your trustworthiness—is it discussed in the place of destruction?
Shall thy goodness be declared in the grave, Or thy faithfulness in the place of corruption?
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 justice in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I cry out to you for help; every morning I pray to you.
To thee do I cry, O LORD! In the morning doth my cry come before thee.
14 Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn away from me?
Why, O LORD! dost thou cast me off? Why hidest thou 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 have been afflicted and languishing from my youth; I suffer thy terrors, and am distracted.
16 Your anger has overcome me; the terrible things you do have destroyed me.
Thy fierce wrath overwhelmeth me; Thy terrors utterly destroy me.
17 They surround me all the time like floodwaters, swallowing me up.
They surround me daily like water; They compass me about together.
18 You have made my family and friends avoid me. Darkness is my only friend.
Lover and friend hast thou put far from me; My acquaintances are withdrawn from my sight.
