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Psalm 88

A song; a psalm by Korah’s descendants; for the choir director; according to mahalath leannoth;[a] a maskil by Heman the Ezrahite.

O Yahweh Elohim, my savior,
    I cry out to you during the day and at night.
        Let my prayer come into your presence.
            Turn your ear to hear my cries.
My soul is filled with troubles,
    and my life comes closer to the grave.
        I am numbered with those who go into the pit.
        I am like a man without any strength—
            abandoned with the dead,
            like those who have been killed and lie in graves,
            like those whom you no longer remember,
                who are cut off from your power.
You have put me in the bottom of the pit—in deep, dark places.
Your rage lies heavily on me.
    You make all your waves pound on me. Selah
You have taken my friends far away from me.
    You made me disgusting to them.
    I’m shut in, and I can’t get out.
        My eyes grow weak because of my suffering.
            All day long I call out to you, O Yahweh.
                I stretch out my hands to you in prayer.

10 Will you perform miracles for those who are dead?
    Will the spirits of the dead rise and give thanks to you? Selah
11 Will anyone tell about your mercy in Sheol
    or about your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Will anyone know about your miracles in that dark place
    or about your righteousness in the place where forgotten people live?

13 I cry out to you for help, O Yahweh,
    and in the morning my prayer will come into your presence.

14 Why do you reject my soul, O Yahweh?
    Why do you hide your face from me?
15 Ever since I was young, I have been suffering and near death.
    I have endured your terrors, and now I am in despair.[b]
16 Your burning anger has swept over me.
    Your terrors have destroyed me.
17 They swirl around me all day long like water.
    They surround me on all sides.
18 You have taken my loved ones and friends far away from me.
    Darkness is my only friend![c]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 88:1 Unknown musical term.
  2. Psalm 88:15 Hebrew meaning uncertain.
  3. Psalm 88:18 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

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