< 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 song or Psalme of Heman the Ezrahite to give instruction, committed to the sonnes of Korah for him that excelleth upon Malath Leannoth. O Lord God of my saluation, I cry day and night before thee.
2 Let my prayer come in before you; incline your ear to my supplication, O Lord.
Let my prayer enter into thy presence: incline thine eare vnto my cry.
3 For my soul is filled with troubles, and my life has drawn near to Hades. (Sheol )
For my soule is filled with euils, and my life draweth neere to the graue. (Sheol )
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 downe vnto the pit, and am as a man without strength:
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 slaine lying in the graue, whome thou remembrest no more, and they are cut off from thine hand.
6 They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
Thou hast layde me in the lowest pit, in darkenes, and in the deepe.
7 Your wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and you have brought upon me all your billows. (Pause)
Thine indignation lyeth vpon me, and thou hast vexed me with all thy waues. (Selah)
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 mine acquaintance farre from me, and made mee to be abhorred of them: I am shut vp, and cannot get foorth.
9 Mine eyes are dimmed from poverty; but I cried to you, O Lord, all the day; I spread forth my hands to you.
Mine eye is sorowfull through mine affliction: Lord, I call dayly vpon thee: I stretch out mine hands vnto thee.
10 Will you work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise you?
Wilt thou shewe a miracle to the dead? or shall the dead rise and prayse thee? (Selah)
11 Shall any one declare your mercy in the tomb? and your truth in destruction?
Shall thy louing kindenes be declared in the graue? or thy faithfulnes in destruction?
12 Shall your wonders be known in darkness? and your righteousness in a forgotten land?
Shall thy wonderous workes be knowen in the darke? and thy righteousnes in the land of obliuion?
13 But I cried to you, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent you.
But vnto thee haue I cryed, O Lord, and early shall my prayer come before thee.
14 Therefore, O Lord, do you reject my prayer, [and] turn your face away from me?
Lord, why doest thou reiect my soule, and hidest 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 afflicted and at the point of death: from my youth I suffer thy terrours, doubting of my life.
16 Your wrath has passed over me; and your terrors have greatly disquieted me.
Thine indignations goe ouer me, and thy feare hath cut me off.
17 They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
They came round about me dayly like water, and compassed me together.
18 You have put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
My louers and friends hast thou put away from me, and mine acquaintance hid themselues.