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 of a Psalm for the sons of Core for the end, upon Maeleth for responsive [strains], of instruction for Aeman the Israelite. O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried by day and in the night before thee.
2 Let my prayer enter into thy presence: incline thine eare vnto my cry.
Let my prayer come in before thee; incline thine ear to my supplication, O Lord.
For my soul is filled with troubles, and my life has drawn nigh to Hades. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted among them that go downe vnto the pit, and am as a man without strength:
I have been reckoned with them that go down to the pit; I became as a man without help;
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.
free among the dead, as the slain ones cast out, who sleep in the tomb; whom thou rememberest no more; and they are rejected from thy hand.
6 Thou hast layde me in the lowest pit, in darkenes, and in the deepe.
They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
7 Thine indignation lyeth vpon me, and thou hast vexed me with all thy waues. (Selah)
Thy wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and thou hast brought upon me all thy billows. (Pause)
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.
Thou hast removed my acquaintance far from me; they have made me an abomination to themselves; I have been delivered up, and have not gone forth.
9 Mine eye is sorowfull through mine affliction: Lord, I call dayly vpon thee: I stretch out mine hands vnto thee.
Mine eyes are dimmed from poverty; but I cried to thee, O Lord, all the day; I spread forth my hands to thee.
10 Wilt thou shewe a miracle to the dead? or shall the dead rise and prayse thee? (Selah)
Wilt thou work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise thee?
11 Shall thy louing kindenes be declared in the graue? or thy faithfulnes in destruction?
Shall any one declare thy mercy in the tomb? and thy truth in destruction?
12 Shall thy wonderous workes be knowen in the darke? and thy righteousnes in the land of obliuion?
Shall thy wonders be known in darkness? and thy righteousness in a forgotten land?
13 But vnto thee haue I cryed, O Lord, and early shall my prayer come before thee.
But I cried to thee, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
14 Lord, why doest thou reiect my soule, and hidest thy face from me?
Wherefore, O Lord, dost thou reject my prayer, [and] turn thy face away from me?
15 I am afflicted and at the point of death: from my youth I suffer thy terrours, doubting of my life.
I am poor and in troubles from my youth; and having been exalted, I was brought low and into despair.
16 Thine indignations goe ouer me, and thy feare hath cut me off.
Thy wrath has passed over me; and thy terrors have greatly disquieted me.
17 They came round about me dayly like water, and compassed me together.
They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
18 My louers and friends hast thou put away from me, and mine acquaintance hid themselues.
Thou hast put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
