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 Canticle Psalm to the sons of Korah. Unto the end. For Mahalath, to answer the understanding of Heman the Ezrahite. O Lord, God of my salvation: I have cried out, day and night, in your presence.
2 My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,
Let my prayer enter in your sight. Incline your ear to my petition.
For my soul has been filled with evils, and my life has drawn near to Hell. (Sheol h7585)
4 I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without strength.
I am considered to be among those who will descend into the pit. I have become like a man without assistance,
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.
idle among the dead. I am like the wounded sleeping in sepulchers, whom you no longer remember, and who have been repelled by your hand.
6 Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
They have lain me in the lower 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)
Your fury has been confirmed over me. And you have brought all your waves upon me.
8 Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up — I go not forth.
You have sent my acquaintances far from me. They have set me as an abomination to themselves. I was handed over, yet I did not depart.
9 Mine eye hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands.
My eyes languished before destitution. All day long, I cried out to you, O Lord. I stretched out my hands to you.
10 To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? (Selah)
Will you perform wonders for the dead? Or will physicians raise to life, and so confess to you?
11 Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?
Could anyone declare your mercy in the sepulcher, or your truth from within perdition?
12 Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Will your wonders be known in the darkness, or your justice in the land of oblivion?
13 And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.
And I have cried out to you, O Lord, and in early morning, my prayer will come before you.
14 Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me.
Lord, why do you reject my prayer? Why do you turn your face away from me?
15 I [am] afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors — I pine away.
I am poor, and I have been amid hardships from my youth. And, though I have been exalted, I am humbled and disturbed.
16 Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,
Your wrath has crossed into me, and your terrors have disturbed me.
17 They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,
They have surrounded me like water, all day long. They have surrounded me, all at once.
18 Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
Friend and neighbor, and my acquaintances, you have sent far away from me, away from misery.
