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 song or psalm of the sons of Korach, to the chief musician upon Machalath-le'annoth, a Maskil of Heman the Ezrachite.” O Lord the God of my salvation, by day do I cry, [and] at night I am before thee.
2 Let my prayer come before Thee, incline Thine ear unto my cry.
Let my prayer come unto thy presence; incline thy ear unto my entreaty.
For my soul is sated with troubles; and my life draweth nigh unto the nether world. (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 counted with those that descend into the pit; I am become as a man without vigor:
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.
Free among the dead, like the slain that dwell in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more; and those that are cut off by thy hand.
6 Thou hast laid me in the nethermost pit, in dark places, in the deeps.
Thou hast laid me in the pit of the lower world, in darkness, in the depths.
7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and all Thy waves Thou pressest down. (Selah)
Upon me lieth heavily thy fury, and with all thy billows hast thou afflicted me. (Selah)
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.
Thou hast removed my acquaintances far from me; thou hast rendered me an abomination unto them: I am imprisoned, and I cannot go forth.
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 eye languisheth by reason of affliction: I call on thee, O Lord, every day, I stretch out unto thee my hands.
10 Wilt Thou work wonders for the dead? Or shall the shades arise and give Thee thanks? (Selah)
Wilt thou display wonders to the dead? shall the departed arise [and] thank thee? (Selah)
11 Shall Thy mercy be declared in the grave? or Thy faithfulness in destruction?
Shall thy kindness be related in the grave? thy faithfulness in the place of corruption?
12 Shall Thy wonders be known in the dark? and Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Shall thy wonders be acknowledged in the darkness? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But as for me, unto Thee, O LORD, do I cry, and in the morning doth my prayer come to meet Thee.
Yet I cry indeed aloud unto thee, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer come before thee.
14 LORD, why castest Thou off my soul? Why hidest Thou Thy face from me?
Why, O Lord, wilt thou cast off my soul? [why] wilt thou hide thy face 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 afflicted and perishing from my youth up: I bear thy terrors, I am distracted.
16 Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; Thy terrors have cut me off.
Over me have the fires of thy wrath passed; thy terrors have destroyed me;
17 They came round about me like water all the day; they compassed me about together.
They encompass me like water all the time; they have closed in round about me together.
18 Friend and companion hast Thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
Thou hast removed far from me lover and friend, my acquaintances [are in] darkness.
