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,
Yahweh God, you who rescues me, all during each day I call out [to you] to help me, and I cry out to you during each night also.
2 My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,
Listen [IDM] to my prayer [DOU], while I cry out to you [for help]!
I have experienced many troubles/difficulties, and I am about to die [MTY] and go where dead people are. (Sheol h7585)
4 I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without strength.
Because I have no more strength, [other people also] consider that I will soon die.
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 like a corpse that has been abandoned; I am like dead people who lie in their graves, people who have been completely forgotten, because you do not take care of them any more.
6 Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
[It is as though] you have thrown me into a deep, dark pit, into a place where they throw corpses.
7 Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And [with] all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. (Selah)
[It seems like] you are very angry with me, and [it is as though] you have crushed me like [ocean] waves [crash down on people] [MET].
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 caused my friends to (avoid/stay away from) me; I have become repulsive to them. [It is as though] I am in a prison and cannot escape.
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 cannot see well because I cry very much. Yahweh, every day I call out to you [to help me]; I lift up my hands to you [while I pray].
10 To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? (Selah)
You certainly do not [RHQ] perform miracles for dead people! Their spirits do not [RHQ] arise to praise you!
11 Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?
Corpses in the grave certainly do not tell about your faithfully loving us [RHQ], and in the place where people are finally destroyed, no one tells about what you faithfully [do for us] [RHQ].
12 Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
No one in the deep dark pit ever sees the miracles that you perform [RHQ], and no one in the place where people have been completely forgotten tells about your being good to us.
13 And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.
But [as for me], Yahweh, I cry out to you [to help me]; each morning I pray to you.
14 Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me.
Yahweh, why do you reject me [RHQ]? Why do you turn away from me [RHQ]?
15 I [am] afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors — I pine away.
All the time since I was young, I have suffered and have often almost died; I am (in despair/very discouraged) because of enduring the terrible things that you have done to me.
16 Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,
[I feel that] you have crushed me because of your being angry with me; the terrible things that you are doing to me are almost destroying me.
17 They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,
[I feel as though] they surround me like a flood [SIM]; they are (closing in on/crushing) me from all sides.
18 Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
You have caused [even] my friends and others whom I love to avoid me, and [it is as though] the only friend that I have is darkness.
