Psalms 88
1 A Song, a Psalm of the sons of Korah; for the Chief Musician; set to Mahalath Leannoth. Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You.
2 Let my prayer enter into thy presence; incline thine ear unto my cry:
May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry.
For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit; I am as a man that hath no help:
I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength.
5 Cast off among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more; and they are cut off from thy hand.
I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care.
6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the deeps.
You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths.
7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. (Selah)
Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me.
8 Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
You have removed my friends from me; You have made me repulsive to them; I am confined and cannot escape.
9 Mine eye wasteth away by reason of affliction: I have called daily upon thee, O LORD, I have spread forth my hands unto thee.
My eyes grow dim with grief. I call to You daily, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You.
10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall they that are deceased arise and praise thee? (Selah)
Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You?
11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in Destruction?
Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
13 But unto thee, O LORD, have I cried, and in the morning shall my prayer come before thee.
But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14 LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
Why, O LORD, do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
From my youth I was afflicted and near death. I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair.
16 Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
Your wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me.
17 They came round about me like water all the day long; they compassed me about together.
All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side.
18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
You have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion.
