Psalms 88
1 A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Suffering of Affliction.” A contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite. LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.
A Song, a Psalm of the sons of Korah; for the Leader; upon Mahalath Leannoth. Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, God of my salvation, what time I cry in the night before Thee,
2 Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.
Let my prayer come before Thee, incline Thine ear unto my cry.
For my soul is sated with troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted amongst those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,
I am counted with them that go down into the pit; I am become as a man that hath no help;
5 set apart amongst the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand.
Set apart among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom Thou rememberest no more; and they are cut off from Thy hand.
6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
Thou hast laid me in the nethermost pit, in dark places, in the deeps.
7 Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. (Selah)
Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and all Thy waves Thou pressest down. (Selah)
8 You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can’t escape.
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.
9 My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, LORD. I have spread out my hands to you.
Mine eye languisheth by reason of affliction; I have called upon Thee, O LORD, every day, I have spread forth my hands unto Thee.
10 Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? (Selah)
Wilt Thou work wonders for the dead? Or shall the shades arise and give Thee thanks? (Selah)
11 Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
Shall Thy mercy be declared in the grave? or Thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Shall Thy wonders be known in the dark? and Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But to you, LORD, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
But as for me, unto Thee, O LORD, do I cry, and in the morning doth my prayer come to meet Thee.
14 LORD, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?
LORD, why castest Thou off my soul? Why hidest Thou Thy face from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.
I am afflicted and at the point of death from my youth up; I have borne Thy terrors, I am distracted.
16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; Thy terrors have cut me off.
17 They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
They came round about me like water all the day; they compassed me about together.
18 You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
Friend and companion hast Thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
