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, 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 Please listen to my prayer; hear my words as I plead with you.
My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,
For my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I'm counted among the dying; a man with no strength.
I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without strength.
5 I am abandoned among the dead, lying like a corpse in the grave, forgotten and beyond your care.
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 You have placed me in a deep pit, in the depths of darkness.
Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
7 Your hostility crushes me; you are drowning me under your crashing waves. (Selah)
Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And [with] all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. (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 hast put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up — I go not forth.
9 I've cried my eyes out begging you every day for your help, Lord, holding out my hands to you.
Mine eye hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands.
10 Do you do miracles among the dead? Do the dead stand up to praise you? (Selah)
To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? (Selah)
11 Your faithful love—is it mentioned in the grave? Your trustworthiness—is it discussed in the place of destruction?
Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Are the wonderful things you do known in the darkness? Is your goodness known in the land of forgetfulness?
Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I cry out to you for help; every morning I pray to you.
And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.
14 Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn away from me?
Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest 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 expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors — I pine away.
16 Your anger has overcome me; the terrible things you do have destroyed me.
Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,
17 They surround me all the time like floodwaters, swallowing me up.
They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,
18 You have made my family and friends avoid me. Darkness is my only friend.
Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
