< 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 by the sons of Korah. For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Suffering of Affliction.” A contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite. Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer enter into thy presence: incline thine eare vnto my cry.
Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.
3 For my soule is filled with euils, and my life draweth neere to the graue. (Sheol )
For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol. (Sheol )
4 I am counted among them that go downe vnto the pit, and am as a man without strength:
I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no 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.
set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand.
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 depths.
7 Thine indignation lyeth vpon me, and thou hast vexed me with all thy waues. (Selah)
Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. (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 taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can’t 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 dim from grief. I have called on you daily, Yahweh. I have 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 show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? (Selah)
11 Shall thy louing kindenes be declared in the graue? or thy faithfulnes in destruction?
Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
12 Shall thy wonderous workes be knowen in the darke? and thy righteousnes in the land of obliuion?
Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But vnto thee haue I cryed, O Lord, and early shall my prayer come before thee.
But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
14 Lord, why doest thou reiect my soule, and hidest thy face from me?
Yahweh, why do you reject my soul? 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.
I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.
16 Thine indignations goe ouer me, and thy feare hath cut me off.
Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
17 They came round about me dayly like water, and compassed me together.
They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
18 My louers and friends hast thou put away from me, and mine acquaintance hid themselues.
You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.