Psalms 88
1 “A song or psalm of the sons of Korach, to the chief musician upon Machalath-le'annoth, a Maskil of Heman the Ezrachite.” O Lord the God of my salvation, by day do I cry, [and] at night I am before thee.
A Song, a psalm of the Korahites. To the leader: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O Lord my God, I cry for help in the day-time, in the night my cry is before you;
2 Let my prayer come unto thy presence; incline thy ear unto my entreaty.
let my prayer come into your presence, incline your ear to my cry.
For I am sated with sorrow, my life draws near to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted with those that descend into the pit; I am become as a man without vigor:
I am counted with those who go down to the pit; without strength am I.
5 Free among the dead, like the slain that dwell in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more; and those that are cut off by thy hand.
My home is among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom you remember no more cut off as they are from your hand.
6 Thou hast laid me in the pit of the lower world, in darkness, in the depths.
In the deepest pit you have put me, in shadows deep and dark.
7 Upon me lieth heavily thy fury, and with all thy billows hast thou afflicted me. (Selah)
Your wrath lies heavy upon me, waves of your anger roll over me. (Selah)
8 Thou hast removed my acquaintances far from me; thou hast rendered me an abomination unto them: I am imprisoned, and I cannot go forth.
You have put my friends far from me, you have made them shun me. I am shut in, and cannot escape,
9 My eye languisheth by reason of affliction: I call on thee, O Lord, every day, I stretch out unto thee my hands.
my eyes are wasted with sorrow. I call on you, Lord, every day, spreading my hands out to you.
10 Wilt thou display wonders to the dead? shall the departed arise [and] thank thee? (Selah)
For the dead can you work wonders? Can the shades rise again to praise you? (Selah)
11 Shall thy kindness be related in the grave? thy faithfulness in the place of corruption?
Can your kindness be told in the grave, your faithfulness in the tomb?
12 Shall thy wonders be acknowledged in the darkness? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Can your wonders be known in the darkness, or your help in the land of forgetfulness?
13 Yet I cry indeed aloud unto thee, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer come before thee.
I cry for help to you, in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Why, O Lord, wilt thou cast off my soul? [why] wilt thou hide thy face from me?
Why, O Lord, do you spurn me, and hide your face from me?
15 I am afflicted and perishing from my youth up: I bear thy terrors, I am distracted.
From my youth I am wretched and dying, I am numbed by the terrors I bear.
16 Over me have the fires of thy wrath passed; thy terrors have destroyed me;
The fires of your wrath have passed over me, your terrors destroy me,
17 They encompass me like water all the time; they have closed in round about me together.
surging around me forever, hemming me in altogether.
18 Thou hast removed far from me lover and friend, my acquaintances [are in] darkness.
Those who love me you put far from me; the dark is my only friend.
