Psalm 88

A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.

1O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:footnote afootnote b

2Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;

3For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

4I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:

5Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.footnote c

6Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

7Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.

8Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.

9Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

10Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.

11Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?

12Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.

14LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?

15I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

16Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.

17They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.footnote d

18Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.

I Cry Out before You

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

1O LORD, the God of my salvation,day and night I cry out before You. 2May my prayer come before You;incline Your ear to my cry. 3For my soul is full of troubles,and my life draws near to Sheol. 4I am counted among those descending to the Pit.I am like a man without strength.

5I am forsaken among the dead,like the slain who lie in the grave,whom You remember no more,who are cut off from Your care.

6You have laid me in the lowest Pit,in the darkest of the depths. 7Your wrath weighs heavily upon me;all Your waves have submerged me.Selah 8You have removed my friends from me;You have made me repulsive to them;I am confined and cannot escape. 9My eyes grow dim with grief.I call to You daily, O LORD;I spread out my hands to You. 10Do You work wonders for the dead?Do departed spirits rise up to praise You?Selah 11Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave,Your faithfulness in Abaddonfootnote a? 12Will Your wonders be known in the darkness,or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

13But to You, O LORD, I cry for help;in the morning my prayer comes before You. 14Why, O LORD, do You reject me?Why do You hide Your face from me?

15From my youth I was afflicted and near death.I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair. 16Your wrath has swept over me;Your terrors have destroyed me. 17All day long they engulf me like water;they enclose me on every side. 18You have removed my beloved and my friend;darkness is my closest companion.