Psalms 88
1 A song of a Psalm for the sons of Core for the end, upon Maeleth for responsive [strains], of instruction for Aeman the Israelite. O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried by day and in the night before you.
A canticle of a psalm for the sons of Core: unto the end, for Maheleth, to answer understanding of Eman the Ezrahite. O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the day, and in the night before thee.
2 Let my prayer come in before you; incline your ear to my supplication, O Lord.
Let my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my petition.
For my soul is filled with evils: and my life hath drawn nigh to hell. (Sheol h7585)
4 I have been reckoned with them that go down to the pit; I became as a man without help;
I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a man without help,
5 free among the dead, as the slain ones cast out, who sleep in the tomb; whom you remember no more; and they are rejected from your hand.
Free among the dead. Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cast off from thy hand.
6 They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death.
7 Your wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and you have brought upon me all your billows. (Pause)
Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in upon me.
8 You have removed my acquaintance far from me; they have made me an abomination to themselves; I have been delivered up, and have not gone forth.
Thou hast put away my acquaintance far from me: they have set me an abomination to themselves. I was delivered up, and came not forth:
9 Mine eyes are dimmed from poverty; but I cried to you, O Lord, all the day; I spread forth my hands to you.
My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee.
10 Will you work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise you?
Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee?
11 Shall any one declare your mercy in the tomb? and your truth in destruction?
Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth in destruction?
12 Shall your wonders be known in darkness? and your righteousness in a forgotten land?
Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I cried to you, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent you.
But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee.
14 Therefore, O Lord, do you reject my prayer, [and] turn your face away from me?
Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy face from me?
15 I am poor and in troubles from my youth; and having been exalted, I was brought low and into despair.
I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have been humbled and troubled.
16 Your wrath has passed over me; and your terrors have greatly disquieted me.
Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me.
17 They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
They have come round about me like water all the day: they have compassed me about together.
18 You have put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery.
