Psalms 88
1 A song or Psalme of Heman the Ezrahite to give instruction, committed to the sonnes of Korah for him that excelleth upon Malath Leannoth. O Lord God of my saluation, I cry day and night before thee.
A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You.
2 Let my prayer enter into thy presence: incline thine eare vnto my cry.
May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry.
For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted among them that go downe vnto the pit, and am as a man without strength:
I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength.
5 Free among the dead, like the slaine lying in the graue, whome thou remembrest no more, and they are cut off from thine hand.
I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care.
6 Thou hast layde me in the lowest pit, in darkenes, and in the deepe.
You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths.
7 Thine indignation lyeth vpon me, and thou hast vexed me with all thy waues. (Selah)
Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me.
8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance farre from me, and made mee to be abhorred of them: I am shut vp, and cannot get foorth.
You have removed my friends from me; You have made me repulsive to them; I am confined and cannot escape.
9 Mine eye is sorowfull through mine affliction: Lord, I call dayly vpon thee: I stretch out mine hands vnto thee.
My eyes grow dim with grief. I call to You daily, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You.
10 Wilt thou shewe a miracle to the dead? or shall the dead rise and prayse thee? (Selah)
Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You?
11 Shall thy louing kindenes be declared in the graue? or thy faithfulnes in destruction?
Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Shall thy wonderous workes be knowen in the darke? and thy righteousnes in the land of obliuion?
Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
13 But vnto thee haue I cryed, O Lord, and early shall my prayer come before thee.
But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14 Lord, why doest thou reiect my soule, and hidest thy face from me?
Why, O LORD, do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me?
15 I am afflicted and at the point of death: from my youth I suffer thy terrours, doubting of my life.
From my youth I was afflicted and near death. I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair.
16 Thine indignations goe ouer me, and thy feare hath cut me off.
Your wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me.
17 They came round about me dayly like water, and compassed me together.
All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side.
18 My louers and friends hast thou put away from me, and mine acquaintance hid themselues.
You have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion.
