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 of a Psalm for the sons of Core for the end, upon Maeleth for responsive [strains], of instruction for Aeman the Israelite. O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried by day and in the night before you.
2 Let my prayer enter into thy presence; incline thine ear unto my cry:
Let my prayer come in before you; incline your ear to my supplication, O Lord.
For my soul is filled with troubles, and my life has drawn near to Hades. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit; I am as a man that hath no help:
I have been reckoned with them that go down to the pit; I became as a man without help;
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.
free amongst the dead, as the slain ones cast out, who sleep in the tomb; whom you remember no more; and they are rejected from your hand.
6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the deeps.
They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. (Selah)
Your wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and you have brought upon me all your billows. (Pause)
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 acquaintance far from me; they have made me an abomination to themselves; I have been delivered up, and have not gone forth.
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.
Mine eyes are dimmed from poverty; but I cried to you, O Lord, all the day; I spread forth my hands to you.
10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall they that are deceased arise and praise thee? (Selah)
Will you work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise you?
11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in Destruction?
Shall any one declare your mercy in the tomb? and your truth in destruction?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Shall your wonders be known in darkness? and your righteousness in a forgotten land?
13 But unto thee, O LORD, have I cried, and in the morning shall my prayer come before thee.
But I cried to you, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent you.
14 LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
Therefore, O Lord, do you reject my prayer, [and] turn your face away from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
I am poor and in troubles from my youth; and having been exalted, I was brought low and into despair.
16 Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
Your wrath has passed over me; and your terrors have greatly disquieted me.
17 They came round about me like water all the day long; they compassed me about together.
They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
You have put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
