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 of a psalm for the sons of Core: unto the end, for Maheleth, to answer understanding of Eman the Ezrahite. O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the 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 thy ear to my petition.
For my soul is filled with evils: and my life hath drawn nigh 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 counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become 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. Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cast off from thy hand.
6 Thou hast layde me in the lowest pit, in darkenes, and in the deepe.
They have laid me in the lower pit: in the 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 is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in 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.
Thou hast put away my acquaintance far from me: they have set me an abomination to themselves. I was delivered up, and came not forth:
9 Mine eye is sorowfull through mine affliction: Lord, I call dayly vpon thee: I stretch out mine hands vnto thee.
My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee.
10 Wilt thou shewe a miracle to the dead? or shall the dead rise and prayse thee? (Selah)
Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee?
11 Shall thy louing kindenes be declared in the graue? or thy faithfulnes in destruction?
Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: 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 the dark; and thy justice in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But vnto thee haue I cryed, O Lord, and early shall my prayer come before thee.
But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee.
14 Lord, why doest thou reiect my soule, and hidest thy face from me?
Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy face 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 labours from my youth: and being exalted have been humbled and troubled.
16 Thine indignations goe ouer me, and thy feare hath cut me off.
Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me.
17 They came round about me dayly like water, and compassed me together.
They have come round about me like water all the day: they have compassed me about together.
18 My louers and friends hast thou put away from me, and mine acquaintance hid themselues.
Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery.
