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 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 Please listen to my prayer; hear my words as I plead with you.
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'm counted among the dying; a man with no strength.
I am counted with those who go down to the pit; without strength am I.
5 I am abandoned among the dead, lying like a corpse in the grave, forgotten and beyond your care.
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 You have placed me in a deep pit, in the depths of darkness.
In the deepest pit you have put me, in shadows deep and dark.
7 Your hostility crushes me; you are drowning me under your crashing waves. (Selah)
Your wrath lies heavy upon me, waves of your anger roll over me. (Selah)
8 You have made my friends avoid me by making me look repulsive to them. I'm trapped, I can't go out.
You have put my friends far from me, you have made them shun me. I am shut in, and cannot escape,
9 I've cried my eyes out begging you every day for your help, Lord, holding out my hands to you.
my eyes are wasted with sorrow. I call on you, Lord, every day, spreading my hands out to you.
10 Do you do miracles among the dead? Do the dead stand up to praise you? (Selah)
For the dead can you work wonders? Can the shades rise again to praise you? (Selah)
11 Your faithful love—is it mentioned in the grave? Your trustworthiness—is it discussed in the place of destruction?
Can your kindness be told in the grave, your faithfulness in the tomb?
12 Are the wonderful things you do known in the darkness? Is your goodness known in the land of forgetfulness?
Can your wonders be known in the darkness, or your help in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I cry out to you for help; every morning I pray to you.
I cry for help to you, in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn away from me?
Why, O Lord, do you spurn me, and hide your 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!
From my youth I am wretched and dying, I am numbed by the terrors I bear.
16 Your anger has overcome me; the terrible things you do have destroyed me.
The fires of your wrath have passed over me, your terrors destroy me,
17 They surround me all the time like floodwaters, swallowing me up.
surging around me forever, hemming me in altogether.
18 You have made my family and friends avoid me. Darkness is my only friend.
Those who love me you put far from me; the dark is my only friend.
