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 sons of Korah; for the chief musician; set to the Mahalath Leannoth style. A maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. Yahweh, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you.
2 Please listen to my prayer; hear my words as I plead with you.
Listen to my prayer; pay attention to my cry.
For I am filled with troubles, and my life has reached Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I'm counted among the dying; a man with no strength.
People treat me like those who go down into the pit; I am a man with no strength.
5 I am abandoned among the dead, lying like a corpse in the grave, forgotten and beyond your care.
I am abandoned among the dead; I am like the dead who lie in the grave, about whom you care no more because they are cut off from your power.
6 You have placed me in a deep pit, in the depths of darkness.
You place me in the lowest part of the pit, in the dark and deep places.
7 Your hostility crushes me; you are drowning me under your crashing waves. (Selah)
Your wrath lies heavy on me, and all your waves crash 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.
Because of you, my acquaintances avoid me. You have made me a shocking sight to them. I am hemmed in and I 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 grow weary from trouble; All day long I call out to you, Yahweh; I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you do miracles among the dead? Do the dead stand up to praise you? (Selah)
Will you do wonders for the dead? Will those who have died rise and praise you? (Selah)
11 Your faithful love—is it mentioned in the grave? Your trustworthiness—is it discussed in the place of destruction?
Will your covenant faithfulness be proclaimed in the grave, your loyalty in the place of the dead?
12 Are the wonderful things you do known in the darkness? Is your goodness known in the land of forgetfulness?
Will your wonderful deeds be known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the place of forgetfulness?
13 But I cry out to you for help; every morning I pray to you.
But I cry to you, Yahweh; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn away from me?
Yahweh, why do you reject me? Why do you 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!
I have always been afflicted and on the verge of death since my youth. I have suffered from your terrors; I am in despair.
16 Your anger has overcome me; the terrible things you do have destroyed me.
Your angry actions have passed over me, and your terrifying deeds have annihilated me.
17 They surround me all the time like floodwaters, swallowing me up.
They surround me like water all the day long; they have all encircled me.
18 You have made my family and friends avoid me. Darkness is my only friend.
You have removed every friend and acquaintance from me. My only acquaintance is the darkness.
