Psalms 88
1 A SONG. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. TO THE OVERSEER. [SET] ON “SICKNESS TO AFFLICT.” AN INSTRUCTION OF HEMAN THE EZRAHITE. O YHWH, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly before You,
Adonai, the God of my yishu'ah ·salvation·, I have cried day and night before you.
2 My prayer comes in before You, Incline Your ear to my loud 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 ·Place of the dead·. (Sheol h7585)
4 I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without strength.
I am counted among those who go down into the pit (of Abbadon, the unrighteous side of Sheol). I am like a man who has no help,
5 Among the dead—free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom You have not remembered anymore, Indeed, they have been cut off by Your 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 You have put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
You have laid me in the lowest pit (of Abbadon, the unrighteous side of Sheol), in the darkest depths.
7 Your fury has lain on me, And You have afflicted [with] all Your breakers. (Selah)
Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
8 You have put my acquaintance far from me, You have made me an abomination to them, Shut up—I do not go 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 My eye has grieved because of affliction, I called You, O YHWH, all the day, I have spread out my hands to You.
My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, Adonai. I have spread out my hands to you.
10 Do You do wonders to the dead? Does Rephaim rise? Do they thank You? (Selah)
Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and yadah ·extend hands in thankful praise· to you? (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.
11 Is Your kindness recounted in the grave? Your faithfulness in destruction?
Is your chesed ·loving-kindness· declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Abaddon ·Destruction, Unrighteous side of Sheol·?
12 Are Your wonders known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 And I, to You, O YHWH, I have cried, And in the morning my prayer comes before You.
But to you, Adonai, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
14 Why, O YHWH, do You cast off my soul? You hide Your face from me.
Adonai, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?
15 I [am] afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Your terrors—I pine away.
I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.
16 Your wrath has passed over me, Your terrors have cut me off,
Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
17 They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone around against me together,
They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
18 You have put lover and friend far from me, My acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
You have put 'ahav ·affectionate lover· and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
