Psalms 88
1 A Song, a Psalm of the sons of Korah; for the Leader; upon Mahalath Leannoth. Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, God of my salvation, what time I cry in the 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 come before Thee, incline Thine ear unto 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 with them that go down into the pit; I am become as a man that hath no help;
I am considered to be among those who will descend into the pit. I have become like a man without assistance,
5 Set apart among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom Thou rememberest no more; and they are cut off from Thy 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 laid me in the nethermost pit, in dark places, in the deeps.
They have lain me in the lower pit: in dark places and in the shadow of death.
7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and all Thy waves Thou pressest down. (Selah)
Your fury has been confirmed over me. And you have brought all your waves upon me.
8 Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me; Thou hast made me an abomination unto them; I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
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 languisheth by reason of affliction; I have called upon Thee, O LORD, every day, I have spread forth my hands unto 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 work wonders for the dead? Or shall the shades arise and give Thee thanks? (Selah)
Will you perform wonders for the dead? Or will physicians raise to life, and so confess to you?
11 Shall Thy mercy be declared in the grave? or Thy faithfulness in destruction?
Could anyone declare your mercy in the sepulcher, or your truth from within perdition?
12 Shall Thy wonders be known in the dark? and Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Will your wonders be known in the darkness, or your justice in the land of oblivion?
13 But as for me, unto Thee, O LORD, do I cry, and in the morning doth my prayer come to meet Thee.
And I have cried out to you, O Lord, and in early morning, my prayer will come before you.
14 LORD, why castest Thou off my soul? Why hidest Thou 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 up; I have borne Thy terrors, I am distracted.
I am poor, and I have been amid hardships from my youth. And, though I have been exalted, I am humbled and disturbed.
16 Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; Thy terrors have cut me off.
Your wrath has crossed into me, and your terrors have disturbed me.
17 They came round about me like water all the day; they compassed me about together.
They have surrounded me like water, all day long. They have surrounded me, all at once.
18 Friend and companion hast Thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
Friend and neighbor, and my acquaintances, you have sent far away from me, away from misery.
