Psalm 88 ~ Psalm 88

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1 O Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried to You for help by day; at night I am in Your presence.

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,

2 L et my prayer come before You and really enter into Your presence; incline Your ear to my cry!

My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,

3 F or I am full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol (the place of the dead).

For my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come to Sheol.

4 I am counted among those who go down into the pit (the grave); I am like a man who has no help or strength,

I have been reckoned with those going down the pit, I have been as a man without strength.

5 C ast away among the dead, like the slain that lie in a grave, whom You remember no more, and they are cut off from Your hand.

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.

6 Y ou have laid me in the depths of the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.

7 Y our wrath lies hard upon me, and You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah!

Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. Selah.

8 Y ou have put my friends far from me; You have made me an abomination to them. I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.

Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up -- I go not forth.

9 M y eye grows dim because of sorrow and affliction. Lord, I have called daily on You; I have spread forth my hands to You.

Mine eye hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands.

10 W ill You show wonders to the dead? Shall the departed arise and praise You? Selah!

To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? Selah.

11 S hall Your steadfast love be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in Abaddon (Sheol, as a place of ruin and destruction)?

Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?

12 S hall Your wonders be known in the dark? And Your righteousness in the place of forgetfulness ?

Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 B ut to You I cry, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer come to meet You.

And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.

14 L ord, why do You cast me off? Why do You hide Your face from me?

Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me.

15 I was afflicted and close to death from my youth up; while I suffer Your terrors I am distracted.

I afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors -- I pine away.

16 Y our fierce wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me.

Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,

17 T hey surround me like a flood all day long; together they have closed in upon me.

They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,

18 L over and friend have You put far from me; my familiar friends are darkness and the grave.

Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance the place of darkness!