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 Korahites. To the leader: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O Lord my God, I cry for help in the day-time, in the night my cry is before you;
2 Let my prayer enter into thy presence: incline thine eare vnto my cry.
let my prayer come into your presence, incline your ear to my cry.
For I am sated with sorrow, 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 with those who go down to the pit; without strength am I.
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.
My home is among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom you remember no more cut off as they are from your hand.
6 Thou hast layde me in the lowest pit, in darkenes, and in the deepe.
In the deepest pit you have put me, in shadows deep and dark.
7 Thine indignation lyeth vpon me, and thou hast vexed me with all thy waues. (Selah)
Your wrath lies heavy upon me, waves of your anger roll over me. (Selah)
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 put my friends far from me, you have made them shun me. I am shut in, 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 are wasted with sorrow. I call on you, Lord, every day, spreading my hands out to you.
10 Wilt thou shewe a miracle to the dead? or shall the dead rise and prayse thee? (Selah)
For the dead can you work wonders? Can the shades rise again to praise you? (Selah)
11 Shall thy louing kindenes be declared in the graue? or thy faithfulnes in destruction?
Can your kindness be told in the grave, your faithfulness in the tomb?
12 Shall thy wonderous workes be knowen in the darke? and thy righteousnes in the land of obliuion?
Can your wonders be known in the darkness, or your help in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But vnto thee haue I cryed, O Lord, and early shall my prayer come before thee.
I cry for help to you, 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 spurn me, and 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 am wretched and dying, I am numbed by the terrors I bear.
16 Thine indignations goe ouer me, and thy feare hath cut me off.
The fires of your wrath have passed over me, your terrors destroy me,
17 They came round about me dayly like water, and compassed me together.
surging around me forever, hemming me in altogether.
18 My louers and friends hast thou put away from me, and mine acquaintance hid themselues.
Those who love me you put far from me; the dark is my only friend.
