Psalms 88

1A 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,

1 O Jehovah, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee.

2My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,

2Let my prayer enter into thy presence; Incline thine ear unto my cry.

3For my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come to Sheol.

3For my soul is full of troubles, And my life draweth nigh unto Sheol.

4I have been reckoned with those going down <FI>to<Fi> the pit, I have been as a man without strength.

4I am reckoned with them that go down into the pit; I am as a man that hath no help,

5Among 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.

5Cast off among the dead, Like the slain that lie in the grave, Whom thou rememberest no more, And they are cut off from thy hand.

6Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.

6Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in the deeps.

7Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And <FI>with<Fi> all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. Selah.

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

8Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up--I go not forth.

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

9Mine eye hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands.

9Mine eye wasteth away by reason of affliction: I have called daily upon thee, O Jehovah; I have spread forth my hands unto thee.

10To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? Selah.

10Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? Shall they that are deceased arise and praise thee? [Selah

11Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?

11Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or thy faithfulness in Destruction?

12Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

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

13And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.

13But unto thee, O Jehovah, have I cried; And in the morning shall my prayer come before thee.

14Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me.

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

15I <FI>am<Fi> afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors--I pine away.

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

16Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,

16Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; Thy terrors have cut me off.

17They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,

17They came round about me like water all the day long; They compassed me about together.

18Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance <FI>is<Fi> the place of darkness!

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