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, a psalm of the sons of Korah; for the chief musician; set to the Mahalath Leannoth style. A maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. Yahweh, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer come before Thee, incline Thine ear unto my cry.
Listen to my prayer; pay attention to my cry.
For I am filled with troubles, and my life has reached Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit; I am become as a man that hath no help;
People treat me like those who go down into the pit; I am a man with no strength.
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.
I am abandoned among the dead; I am like the dead who lie in the grave, about whom you care no more because they are cut off from your power.
6 Thou hast laid me in the nethermost pit, in dark places, in the deeps.
You place me in the lowest part of the pit, in the dark and deep places.
7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and all Thy waves Thou pressest down. (Selah)
Your wrath lies heavy on me, and all your waves crash over 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.
Because of you, my acquaintances avoid me. You have made me a shocking sight to them. I am hemmed in and I cannot escape.
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 grow weary from trouble; All day long I call out to you, Yahweh; I spread 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 do wonders for the dead? Will those who have died rise and praise you? (Selah)
11 Shall Thy mercy be declared in the grave? or Thy faithfulness in destruction?
Will your covenant faithfulness be proclaimed in the grave, your loyalty in the place of the dead?
12 Shall Thy wonders be known in the dark? and Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Will your wonderful deeds be known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the place 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.
But I cry to you, Yahweh; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 LORD, why castest Thou off my soul? Why hidest Thou Thy face from me?
Yahweh, why do you reject me? Why do you hide your 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 have always been afflicted and on the verge of death since my youth. I have suffered from your terrors; I am in despair.
16 Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; Thy terrors have cut me off.
Your angry actions have passed over me, and your terrifying deeds have annihilated me.
17 They came round about me like water all the day; they compassed me about together.
They surround me like water all the day long; they have all encircled me.
18 Friend and companion hast Thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
You have removed every friend and acquaintance from me. My only acquaintance is the darkness.
