Psalms 88
1 A song, a psalm of the sons of Korah; for the chief musician; set to the Mahalath Leannoth style. A maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. Yahweh, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you.
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 Listen to my prayer; pay attention to 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 People treat me like those who go down into the pit; I am a man with no strength.
I have been reckoned with them that go down to the pit; I became as a man without help;
5 I am abandoned among the dead; I am like the dead who lie in the grave, about whom you care no more because they are cut off from your power.
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 You place me in the lowest part of the pit, in the dark and deep places.
They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
7 Your wrath lies heavy on me, and all your waves crash over me. (Selah)
Your wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and you have brought upon me all your billows. (Pause)
8 Because of you, my acquaintances avoid me. You have made me a shocking sight to them. I am hemmed in and I cannot escape.
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 My eyes grow weary from trouble; All day long I call out to you, Yahweh; I spread out my hands to you.
Mine eyes are dimmed from poverty; but I cried to you, O Lord, all the day; I spread forth my hands to you.
10 Will you do wonders for the dead? Will those who have died rise and praise you? (Selah)
Will you work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise you?
11 Will your covenant faithfulness be proclaimed in the grave, your loyalty in the place of the dead?
Shall any one declare your mercy in the tomb? and your truth in destruction?
12 Will your wonderful deeds be known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the place of forgetfulness?
Shall your wonders be known in darkness? and your righteousness in a forgotten land?
13 But I cry to you, Yahweh; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
But I cried to you, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent you.
14 Yahweh, why do you reject me? Why do you hide your face from me?
Therefore, O Lord, do you reject my prayer, [and] turn your face away from me?
15 I have always been afflicted and on the verge of death since my youth. I have suffered from your terrors; I am in despair.
I am poor and in troubles from my youth; and having been exalted, I was brought low and into despair.
16 Your angry actions have passed over me, and your terrifying deeds have annihilated me.
Your wrath has passed over me; and your terrors have greatly disquieted me.
17 They surround me like water all the day long; they have all encircled me.
They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
18 You have removed every friend and acquaintance from me. My only acquaintance is the darkness.
You have put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
