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 sons of Korah, to the Overseer, 'Concerning the Sickness of Afflictions.' — An instruction, by Heman the Ezrahite. O Jehovah, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly before Thee,
2 Let my prayer come before Thee, incline Thine ear unto my cry.
My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,
For my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come 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 have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without 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.
Among the dead — free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom Thou hast not remembered any more, Yea, they by Thy hand have been cut off.
6 Thou hast laid me in the nethermost pit, in dark places, in the deeps.
Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and all Thy waves Thou pressest down. (Selah)
Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And [with] all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. (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 put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up — I go not 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.
Mine eye hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands.
10 Wilt Thou work wonders for the dead? Or shall the shades arise and give Thee thanks? (Selah)
To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? (Selah)
11 Shall Thy mercy be declared in the grave? or Thy faithfulness in destruction?
Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall Thy wonders be known in the dark? and Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Are Thy wonders known 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.
And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.
14 LORD, why castest Thou off my soul? Why hidest Thou Thy face from me?
Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest 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 expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors — I pine away.
16 Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; Thy terrors have cut me off.
Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,
17 They came round about me like water all the day; they compassed me about together.
They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,
18 Friend and companion hast Thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
