Psalms 88
1 [A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "The Suffering of Affliction." A contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite.] YHWH, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.
A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korah. For the music director. To the tune “Mahalath Leannoth.” A maskil by Heman the Ezrahite Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you day and night.
2 Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.
Please listen to my prayer; hear my words as I plead with you.
My life is full of troubles, and my death is approaching. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,
I'm counted among the dying; a man with no strength.
5 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.
I am abandoned among the dead, lying like a corpse in the grave, forgotten and beyond your care.
6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
You have placed me in a deep pit, in the depths of darkness.
7 Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. (Selah)
Your hostility crushes me; you are drowning me under your crashing waves. (Selah)
8 You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can't escape.
You have made my friends avoid me by making me look repulsive to them. I'm trapped, I can't go out.
9 My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, YHWH. I have spread out my hands to you.
I've cried my eyes out begging you every day for your help, Lord, holding out my hands to you.
10 Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? (Selah)
Do you do miracles among the dead? Do the dead stand up to praise you? (Selah)
11 Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
Your faithful love—is it mentioned in the grave? Your trustworthiness—is it discussed in the place of destruction?
12 Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Are the wonderful things you do known in the darkness? Is your goodness known in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But to you, YHWH, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
But I cry out to you for help; every morning I pray to you.
14 YHWH, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?
Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn away from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.
I have been sick since I was young, often at death's door. I have had to bear the terrible things you've done to me. I'm in despair!
16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
Your anger has overcome me; the terrible things you do have destroyed me.
17 They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
They surround me all the time like floodwaters, swallowing me up.
18 You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
You have made my family and friends avoid me. Darkness is my only friend.
