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 psalm of the sons of Korah. For the leader of the music. Upon wind instruments. A psalm of Heman, the Ezrahite.” O LORD, God of my salvation! To thee do I cry by day, And by night is my prayer before thee!
2 My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,
Let my supplication come before thee; Incline thine ear to my cry!
For my soul is full of misery, And my life draweth near to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
4 I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without strength.
I am counted with those who are going down to the pit; I am like one who hath no strength.
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.
I am left to myself among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom thou no more rememberest, And who are cut off from thy [[protecting]] hand.
6 Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
Thou hast placed me in a deep pit, In a dark and deep abyss.
7 Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And [with] all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. (Selah)
Thy wrath presseth hard upon me, And thou afflictest me with all thy waves! (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 put mine acquaintances far from me, Yea, thou hast made me their abhorrence: I am shut up, and cannot go 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 languish by reason of my affliction. I call upon thee daily, O LORD! To thee do I stretch out my hands!
10 To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? (Selah)
Canst thou show wonders to the dead? Shall the dead arise, and praise thee? (Pause)
11 Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?
Shall thy goodness be declared in the grave, Or thy faithfulness in the place of corruption?
12 Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Shall thy wonders be known in the dark, And thy justice in the land of forgetfulness?
13 And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.
To thee do I cry, O LORD! In the morning doth my cry come before thee.
14 Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me.
Why, O LORD! dost thou cast me off? Why hidest thou thy face from me?
15 I [am] afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors — I pine away.
I have been afflicted and languishing from my youth; I suffer thy terrors, and am distracted.
16 Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,
Thy fierce wrath overwhelmeth me; Thy terrors utterly destroy me.
17 They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,
They surround me daily like water; They compass me about together.
18 Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
Lover and friend hast thou put far from me; My acquaintances are withdrawn from my sight.
