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 canticle of a psalm for the sons of Core: unto the end, for Maheleth, to answer understanding of Eman the Ezrahite. O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the day, and in the night before thee.
2 let my prayer come into your presence, incline your ear to my cry.
Let my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my petition.
For my soul is filled with evils: and my life hath drawn nigh to hell. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted with those who go down to the pit; without strength am I.
I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a man without help,
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.
Free among the dead. Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cast off from thy hand.
6 In the deepest pit you have put me, in shadows deep and dark.
They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death.
7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, waves of your anger roll over me. (Selah)
Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in upon me.
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 away my acquaintance far from me: they have set me an abomination to themselves. I was delivered up, and came not forth:
9 my eyes are wasted with sorrow. I call on you, Lord, every day, spreading my hands out to you.
My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee.
10 For the dead can you work wonders? Can the shades rise again to praise you? (Selah)
Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee?
11 Can your kindness be told in the grave, your faithfulness in the tomb?
Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth in destruction?
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.
But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee.
14 Why, O Lord, do you spurn me, and hide your face from me?
Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy face from me?
15 From my youth I am wretched and dying, I am numbed by the terrors I bear.
I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have been humbled and troubled.
16 The fires of your wrath have passed over me, your terrors destroy me,
Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me.
17 surging around me forever, hemming me in altogether.
They have come round about me like water all the day: they have compassed me about together.
18 Those who love me you put far from me; the dark is my only friend.
Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery.
