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, 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;
2 Listen to my prayer; pay attention to my cry.
let my prayer come into your presence, incline your ear to my cry.
For I am sated with sorrow, my life draws near to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 People treat me like those who go down into the pit; I am a man with no strength.
I am counted with those who go down to the pit; without strength am I.
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.
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.
6 You place me in the lowest part of the pit, in the dark and deep places.
In the deepest pit you have put me, in shadows deep and dark.
7 Your wrath lies heavy on me, and all your waves crash over me. (Selah)
Your wrath lies heavy upon me, waves of your anger roll over me. (Selah)
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 put my friends far from me, you have made them shun me. I am shut in, and cannot escape,
9 My eyes grow weary from trouble; All day long I call out to you, Yahweh; I spread out my hands to you.
my eyes are wasted with sorrow. I call on you, Lord, every day, spreading my hands out to you.
10 Will you do wonders for the dead? Will those who have died rise and praise you? (Selah)
For the dead can you work wonders? Can the shades rise again to praise you? (Selah)
11 Will your covenant faithfulness be proclaimed in the grave, your loyalty in the place of the dead?
Can your kindness be told in the grave, your faithfulness in the tomb?
12 Will your wonderful deeds be known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the place of forgetfulness?
Can your wonders be known in the darkness, or your help in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I cry to you, Yahweh; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
I cry for help to you, in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Yahweh, why do you reject me? Why do you hide your face from me?
Why, O Lord, do you spurn me, and hide your face 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.
From my youth I am wretched and dying, I am numbed by the terrors I bear.
16 Your angry actions have passed over me, and your terrifying deeds have annihilated me.
The fires of your wrath have passed over me, your terrors destroy me,
17 They surround me like water all the day long; they have all encircled me.
surging around me forever, hemming me in altogether.
18 You have removed every friend and acquaintance from me. My only acquaintance is the darkness.
Those who love me you put far from me; the dark is my only friend.
