Psalms 88
1 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;
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,
2 let my prayer come into your presence, incline your ear to my cry.
My prayer comes in before You, Incline Your ear to my loud cry,
For my soul has been full of evils, And my life has come to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted with those who go down to the pit; without strength am I.
I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without strength.
5 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.
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.
6 In the deepest pit you have put me, in shadows deep and dark.
You have put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, waves of your anger roll over me. (Selah)
Your fury has lain on me, And You have afflicted [with] all Your breakers. (Selah)
8 You have put my friends far from me, you have made them shun me. I am shut in, and cannot escape,
You have put my acquaintance far from me, You have made me an abomination to them, Shut up—I do not go forth.
9 my eyes are wasted with sorrow. I call on you, Lord, every day, spreading my hands out to you.
My eye has grieved because of affliction, I called You, O YHWH, all the day, I have spread out my hands to You.
10 For the dead can you work wonders? Can the shades rise again to praise you? (Selah)
Do You do wonders to the dead? Does Rephaim rise? Do they thank You? (Selah)
11 Can your kindness be told in the grave, your faithfulness in the tomb?
Is Your kindness recounted in the grave? Your faithfulness in destruction?
12 Can your wonders be known in the darkness, or your help in the land of forgetfulness?
Are Your wonders known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 I cry for help to you, in the morning my prayer comes before you.
And I, to You, O YHWH, I have cried, And in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14 Why, O Lord, do you spurn me, and hide your face from me?
Why, O YHWH, do You cast off my soul? You hide Your face from me.
15 From my youth I am wretched and dying, I am numbed by the terrors I bear.
I [am] afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Your terrors—I pine away.
16 The fires of your wrath have passed over me, your terrors destroy me,
Your wrath has passed over me, Your terrors have cut me off,
17 surging around me forever, hemming me in altogether.
They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone around against me together,
18 Those who love me you put far from me; the dark is my only friend.
You have put lover and friend far from me, My acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
