Psalms 88
1 A Song, a Psalm, by sons of Korah, to the Overseer, 'Concerning the Sickness of Afflictions.' — An instruction, by Heman the Ezrahite. O Jehovah, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly 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 thee.
2 My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,
Let my prayer come in before thee; incline thine ear to my supplication, O Lord.
For my soul is filled with troubles, and my life has drawn nigh to Hades. (Sheol h7585)
4 I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without strength.
I have been reckoned with them that go down to the pit; I became as a man without help;
5 Among the dead — free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom Thou hast not remembered any more, Yea, they by Thy hand have been cut off.
free among the dead, as the slain ones cast out, who sleep in the tomb; whom thou rememberest no more; and they are rejected from thy hand.
6 Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark [places], and in the shadow of death.
7 Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And [with] all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. (Selah)
Thy wrath has pressed heavily upon me, and thou hast brought upon me all thy billows. (Pause)
8 Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up — I go not forth.
Thou hast 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 hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands.
Mine eyes are dimmed from poverty; but I cried to thee, O Lord, all the day; I spread forth my hands to thee.
10 To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? (Selah)
Wilt thou work wonders for the dead? or shall physicians raise [them] up, that they shall praise thee?
11 Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?
Shall any one declare thy mercy in the tomb? and thy truth in destruction?
12 Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Shall thy wonders be known in darkness? and thy righteousness in a forgotten land?
13 And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.
But I cried to thee, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
14 Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me.
Wherefore, O Lord, dost thou reject my prayer, [and] turn thy face away from me?
15 I [am] afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors — I pine away.
I am poor and in troubles from my youth; and having been exalted, I was brought low and into despair.
16 Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,
Thy wrath has passed over me; and thy terrors have greatly disquieted me.
17 They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,
They compassed me like water; all the day they beset me together.
18 Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
Thou hast put far from me [every] friend, and mine acquaintances because of [my] wretchedness.
