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 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 come before Thee, incline Thine ear unto my cry.
Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.
For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to 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;
I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,
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.
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 laid me in the nethermost pit, in dark places, in the deeps.
You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and all Thy waves Thou pressest down. (Selah)
Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. (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.
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 languisheth by reason of affliction; I have called upon Thee, O LORD, every day, I have spread forth my hands unto 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 work wonders for the dead? Or shall the shades arise and give Thee thanks? (Selah)
Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? (Selah)
11 Shall Thy mercy be declared in the grave? or Thy faithfulness in destruction?
Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
12 Shall Thy wonders be known in the dark? and Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your 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.
But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. 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 my soul? 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 am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.
16 Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; Thy terrors have cut me off.
Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
17 They came round about me like water all the day; they compassed me about together.
They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
18 Friend and companion hast Thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
