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A song. A psalm by the descendants of Korah. According to Machalath Leannoth. An instruction[a] by Heman the Ezrahite.

A Cry for Help

88 Lord, God of my salvation,
    by day and by night I cry out before you.
Let my prayer come before you;
    listen[b] to my cry.
For my life is filled with troubles
    as I approach Sheol.[c]
I am considered as one of those descending into the Pit,[d]
    like a mighty man without strength,
released to remain[e] with the dead,
    lying in a grave like a corpse,
remembered no longer,
    and cut off from your power.
You have assigned me to the lowest part of the Pit,[f]
    to the darkest depths.
Your anger lies heavily upon me;
    you pound[g] me with all your waves.
Interlude

You caused my acquaintances to shun me;[h]
    you make me extremely abhorrent to them.
        Restrained, I am unable to go out.
My eyes languish on account of my affliction;
    all day long I call out to you, Lord,
        I spread out my hands to you.

10 Can you perform wonders for the dead?
    Can departed spirits stand up to praise you?
Interlude

11 Can your gracious love be declared in the grave
    or your faithfulness in Abaddon?[i]
12 Can your awesome deeds be known in darkness
    or your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

13 As for me, I cry out to you Lord,
    and in the morning my prayer greets you.
14 Why, Lord, have you rejected me?
    Why have you hidden your face from me?
15 Since my youth I have been oppressed
    and in danger of death.
I bear your dread
    and am overwhelmed.
16 Your burning anger overwhelms me;
    your terrors destroy me.
17 Like waters, they engulf me all day long;
    they surround me on all sides.
18 You caused my friend and neighbor to shun me;[j]
    and my acquaintances are confused.[k]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 88:1 Lit. maskil
  2. Psalm 88:2 Lit. stretch your ears
  3. Psalm 88:3 I.e. the realm of the dead
  4. Psalm 88:4 I.e. the place of punishment in the afterlife
  5. Psalm 88:5 The Heb. lacks to remain
  6. Psalm 88:6 I.e. the place of punishment in the afterlife
  7. Psalm 88:7 Lit. oppress
  8. Psalm 88:8 Lit. to be distant
  9. Psalm 88:11 I.e. the realm of destruction in the afterlife
  10. Psalm 88:18 Lit. be distant from
  11. Psalm 88:18 Lit. are in darkness

Psalm 88[a]

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth.[b] A maskil[c] of Heman the Ezrahite.

Lord, you are the God who saves me;(A)
    day and night I cry out(B) to you.
May my prayer come before you;
    turn your ear to my cry.

I am overwhelmed with troubles(C)
    and my life draws near to death.(D)
I am counted among those who go down to the pit;(E)
    I am like one without strength.(F)
I am set apart with the dead,
    like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more,
    who are cut off(G) from your care.

You have put me in the lowest pit,
    in the darkest depths.(H)
Your wrath(I) lies heavily on me;
    you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.[d](J)
You have taken from me my closest friends(K)
    and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined(L) and cannot escape;(M)
    my eyes(N) are dim with grief.

I call(O) to you, Lord, every day;
    I spread out my hands(P) to you.
10 Do you show your wonders to the dead?
    Do their spirits rise up and praise you?(Q)
11 Is your love declared in the grave,
    your faithfulness(R) in Destruction[e]?
12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,
    or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

13 But I cry to you for help,(S) Lord;
    in the morning(T) my prayer comes before you.(U)
14 Why, Lord, do you reject(V) me
    and hide your face(W) from me?

15 From my youth(X) I have suffered(Y) and been close to death;
    I have borne your terrors(Z) and am in despair.(AA)
16 Your wrath(AB) has swept over me;
    your terrors(AC) have destroyed me.
17 All day long they surround me like a flood;(AD)
    they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken from me friend(AE) and neighbor—
    darkness is my closest friend.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 88:1 In Hebrew texts 88:1-18 is numbered 88:2-19.
  2. Psalm 88:1 Title: Possibly a tune, “The Suffering of Affliction”
  3. Psalm 88:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  4. Psalm 88:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.
  5. Psalm 88:11 Hebrew Abaddon