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, a psalm of the sons of Korah; for the chief musician; set to the Mahalath Leannoth style. A maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. Yahweh, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you.
2 My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,
Listen to my prayer; pay attention to my cry.
For I am filled with troubles, and my life has reached Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
4 I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without strength.
People treat me like those who go down into the pit; I am a man with 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 abandoned among the dead; I am like the dead who lie in the grave, about whom you care no more because they are cut off from your power.
6 Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
You place me in the lowest part of the pit, in the dark and deep places.
7 Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And [with] all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. (Selah)
Your wrath lies heavy on me, and all your waves crash over me. (Selah)
8 Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up — I go not forth.
Because of you, my acquaintances avoid me. You have made me a shocking sight to them. I am hemmed in and I 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 grow weary from trouble; All day long I call out to you, Yahweh; I spread out my hands to you.
10 To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? (Selah)
Will you do wonders for the dead? Will those who have died rise and praise you? (Selah)
11 Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?
Will your covenant faithfulness be proclaimed in the grave, your loyalty in the place of the dead?
12 Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Will your wonderful deeds be known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the place of forgetfulness?
13 And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.
But I cry to you, Yahweh; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me.
Yahweh, why do you reject me? Why do you hide your face from me?
15 I [am] afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors — I pine away.
I have always been afflicted and on the verge of death since my youth. I have suffered from your terrors; I am in despair.
16 Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,
Your angry actions have passed over me, and your terrifying deeds have annihilated me.
17 They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,
They surround me like water all the day long; they have all encircled me.
18 Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
You have removed every friend and acquaintance from me. My only acquaintance is the darkness.
