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 psalm of the sons of Korah. For the leader of the music. Upon wind instruments. A psalm of Heman, the Ezrahite.” O LORD, God of my salvation! To thee do I cry by day, And by night is my prayer before thee!
2 let my prayer come into your presence, incline your ear to my cry.
Let my supplication come before thee; Incline thine ear to my cry!
For my soul is full of misery, And my life draweth near to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted with those who go down to the pit; without strength am I.
I am counted with those who are going down to the pit; I am like one who hath no 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.
I am left to myself among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom thou no more rememberest, And who are cut off from thy [[protecting]] hand.
6 In the deepest pit you have put me, in shadows deep and dark.
Thou hast placed me in a deep pit, In a dark and deep abyss.
7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, waves of your anger roll over me. (Selah)
Thy wrath presseth hard upon me, And thou afflictest me with all thy waves! (Pause)
8 You have put my friends far from me, you have made them shun me. I am shut in, and cannot escape,
Thou hast put mine acquaintances far from me, Yea, thou hast made me their abhorrence: I am shut up, and cannot go forth.
9 my eyes are wasted with sorrow. I call on you, Lord, every day, spreading my hands out to you.
Mine eyes languish by reason of my affliction. I call upon thee daily, O LORD! To thee do I stretch out my hands!
10 For the dead can you work wonders? Can the shades rise again to praise you? (Selah)
Canst thou show wonders to the dead? Shall the dead arise, and praise thee? (Pause)
11 Can your kindness be told in the grave, your faithfulness in the tomb?
Shall thy goodness be declared in the grave, Or thy faithfulness in the place of corruption?
12 Can your wonders be known in the darkness, or your help in the land of forgetfulness?
Shall thy wonders be known in the dark, And thy justice in the land of forgetfulness?
13 I cry for help to you, in the morning my prayer comes before you.
To thee do I cry, O LORD! In the morning doth my cry come before thee.
14 Why, O Lord, do you spurn me, and hide your face from me?
Why, O LORD! dost thou cast me off? Why hidest thou thy face from me?
15 From my youth I am wretched and dying, I am numbed by the terrors I bear.
I have been afflicted and languishing from my youth; I suffer thy terrors, and am distracted.
16 The fires of your wrath have passed over me, your terrors destroy me,
Thy fierce wrath overwhelmeth me; Thy terrors utterly destroy me.
17 surging around me forever, hemming me in altogether.
They surround me daily like water; They compass me about together.
18 Those who love me you put far from me; the dark is my only friend.
Lover and friend hast thou put far from me; My acquaintances are withdrawn from my sight.
