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. TO THE OVERSEER. [SET] ON “SICKNESS TO AFFLICT.” AN INSTRUCTION OF HEMAN THE EZRAHITE. O YHWH, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly before You,
2 Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.
My prayer comes in before You, Incline Your ear to my loud cry,
For my soul has been full of evils, And my life has come to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,
I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without strength.
5 set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand.
Among the dead—free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom You have not remembered anymore, Indeed, they have been cut off by Your hand.
6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
You have put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
7 Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. (Selah)
Your fury has lain on me, And You have afflicted [with] all Your breakers. (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.
You have put my acquaintance far from me, You have made me an abomination to them, Shut up—I do not go forth.
9 My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, LORD. I have spread out my hands to you.
My eye has grieved because of affliction, I called You, O YHWH, all the day, I have spread out my hands to You.
10 Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? (Selah)
Do You do wonders to the dead? Does Rephaim rise? Do they thank You? (Selah)
11 Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
Is Your kindness recounted in the grave? Your faithfulness in destruction?
12 Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Are Your wonders known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But to you, LORD, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
And I, to You, O YHWH, I have cried, And in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14 LORD, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?
Why, O YHWH, do You cast off my soul? You hide Your 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 expiring from youth, I have borne Your terrors—I pine away.
16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
Your wrath has passed over me, Your terrors have cut me off,
17 They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone around against me together,
18 You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
You have put lover and friend far from me, My acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
