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 Canticle Psalm to the sons of Korah. Unto the end. For Mahalath, to answer the understanding of Heman the Ezrahite. O Lord, God of my salvation: I have cried out, day and night, in your presence.
2 Let my prayer enter into thy presence: incline thine eare vnto my cry.
Let my prayer enter in your sight. Incline your ear to my petition.
For my soul has been filled with evils, and my life has drawn near to Hell. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted among them that go downe vnto the pit, and am as a man without strength:
I am considered to be among those who will descend into the pit. I have become like a man without assistance,
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.
idle among the dead. I am like the wounded sleeping in sepulchers, whom you no longer remember, and who have been repelled by your hand.
6 Thou hast layde me in the lowest pit, in darkenes, and in the deepe.
They have lain me in the lower 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)
Your fury has been confirmed over me. And you have brought all your waves upon 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 sent my acquaintances far from me. They have set me as an abomination to themselves. I was handed over, yet I did not depart.
9 Mine eye is sorowfull through mine affliction: Lord, I call dayly vpon thee: I stretch out mine hands vnto thee.
My eyes languished before destitution. All day long, I cried out to you, O Lord. I stretched out my hands to you.
10 Wilt thou shewe a miracle to the dead? or shall the dead rise and prayse thee? (Selah)
Will you perform wonders for the dead? Or will physicians raise to life, and so confess to you?
11 Shall thy louing kindenes be declared in the graue? or thy faithfulnes in destruction?
Could anyone declare your mercy in the sepulcher, or your truth from within perdition?
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 justice in the land of oblivion?
13 But vnto thee haue I cryed, O Lord, and early shall my prayer come before thee.
And I have cried out to you, O Lord, and in early morning, my prayer will come before you.
14 Lord, why doest thou reiect my soule, and hidest thy face from me?
Lord, why do you reject my prayer? Why do you turn your 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 I have been amid hardships from my youth. And, though I have been exalted, I am humbled and disturbed.
16 Thine indignations goe ouer me, and thy feare hath cut me off.
Your wrath has crossed into me, and your terrors have disturbed me.
17 They came round about me dayly like water, and compassed me together.
They have surrounded me like water, all day long. They have surrounded me, all at once.
18 My louers and friends hast thou put away from me, and mine acquaintance hid themselues.
Friend and neighbor, and my acquaintances, you have sent far away from me, away from misery.
