Psalms 88

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah. A song to be sung to the tune “The Suffering of Affliction.” A psalm#88:TITLE Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term. of Heman the Ezrahite.

1O Lord, God of my salvation,

I cry out to you by day.

I come to you at night.

2Now hear my prayer;

listen to my cry.

3For my life is full of troubles,

and death#88:3 Hebrew Sheol. draws near.

4I am as good as dead,

like a strong man with no strength left.

5They have left me among the dead,

and I lie like a corpse in a grave.

I am forgotten,

cut off from your care.

6You have thrown me into the lowest pit,

into the darkest depths.

7Your anger weighs me down;

with wave after wave you have engulfed me. Interlude

8You have driven my friends away

by making me repulsive to them.

I am in a trap with no way of escape.

9My eyes are blinded by my tears.

Each day I beg for your help, O Lord;

I lift my hands to you for mercy.

10Are your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead?

Do the dead rise up and praise you? Interlude

11Can those in the grave declare your unfailing love?

Can they proclaim your faithfulness in the place of destruction?#88:11 Hebrew in Abaddon?

12Can the darkness speak of your wonderful deeds?

Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about your righteousness?

13O Lord, I cry out to you.

I will keep on pleading day by day.

14O Lord, why do you reject me?

Why do you turn your face from me?

15I have been sick and close to death since my youth.

I stand helpless and desperate before your terrors.

16Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me.

Your terrors have paralyzed me.

17They swirl around me like floodwaters all day long.

They have engulfed me completely.

18You have taken away my companions and loved ones.

Darkness is my closest friend.

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Psalms 88

A Prayer for Help in Despondency

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A Contemplation of #1 Kin. 4:31; 1 Chr. 2:6Heman the Ezrahite.

1O Lord, #Ps. 27:9; (Luke 18:7)God of my salvation,

I have cried out day and night before You.

2Let my prayer come before You;

Incline Your ear to my cry.

3For my soul is full of troubles,

And my life #Ps. 107:18draws near to the grave.

4I am counted with those who #(Ps. 28:1)go down to the pit;

#Ps. 31:12I am like a man who has no strength,

5Adrift among the dead,

Like the slain who lie in the grave,

Whom You remember no more,

And who are cut off from Your hand.

6You have laid me in the lowest pit,

In darkness, in the depths.

7Your wrath lies heavy upon me,

And You have afflicted me with all #Ps. 42:7Your waves.

Selah

8#Job 19:13, 19; Ps. 31:11; 142:4You have put away my acquaintances far from me;

You have made me an abomination to them;

#Lam. 3:7I am shut up, and I cannot get out;

9My eye wastes away because of affliction.

#Ps. 86:3Lord, I have called daily upon You;

I have stretched out my hands to You.

10Will You work wonders for the dead?

Shall the dead arise and praise You?

Selah

11Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave?

Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction?

12Shall Your wonders be known in the dark?

And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13But to You I have cried out, O Lord,

And in the morning my prayer comes before You.

14Lord, why do You cast off my soul?

Why do You hide Your face from me?

15I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth;

I suffer Your terrors;

I am distraught.

16Your fierce wrath has gone over me;

Your terrors have cut me off.

17They came around me all day long like water;

They engulfed me altogether.

18#Job 19:13; Ps. 31:11; 38:11Loved one and friend You have put far from me,

And my acquaintances into darkness.

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