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,

1Of understanding, for Ethan the Ezrahite.

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

2The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. I will shew forth thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation.

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

3For thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up for ever in the heavens: thy truth shall be prepared in them.

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

4I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my servant:

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.

5Thy seed will I settle for ever. And I will build up thy throne unto generation and generation.

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

6The heavens shall confess thy wonders, O Lord: and thy truth in the church of the saints.

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

7For who in the clouds can be compared to the Lord: or who among the sons of God shall be like to God?

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

8God, who is glorified in the assembly of the saints: great and terrible above all them that are about him.

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

9O Lord God of hosts, who is like to thee? thou art mighty, O Lord, and thy truth is round about thee.

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

10Thou rulest the power of the sea: and appeasest the motion of the waves thereof.

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

11Thou hast humbled the proud one, as one that is slain: with the arm of thy strength thou hast scattered thy enemies.

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

12Thine are the heavens, and thine is the earth: the world and the fulness thereof thou hast founded:

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

13The north and the sea thou hast created. Thabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name:

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

14Thy arm is with might. Let thy hand be strengthened, and thy right hand exalted:

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

15Justice and judgment are the preparation of thy throne. Mercy and truth shall go before thy face:

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

16Blessed is the people that knoweth jubilation. They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance:

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

17And in thy name they shall rejoice all the day, and in thy justice they shall be exalted.

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

18For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy good pleasure shall our horn be exalted.

19(not in this translation)

19For our protection is of the Lord, and of our king the holy one of Israel.

20(not in this translation)

20Then thou spokest in a vision to thy saints, and saidst: I have laid help upon one that is mighty, and have exalted one chosen out of my people.

21(not in this translation)

21I have found David my servant: with my holy oil I have anointed him.

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22For my hand shall help him: and my arm shall strengthen him.

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23The enemy shall have no advantage over him: nor the son of iniquity have power to hurt him.

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24And I will cut down his enemies before his face; and them that hate him I will put to flight.

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25And my truth and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

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26And I will set his hand in the sea; and his right hand in the rivers.

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27He shall cry out to me: Thou art my father: my God, and the support of my salvation.

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28And I will make him my firstborn, high above the kings of the earth.

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29I will keep my mercy for him for ever: and my covenant faithful to him.

30(not in this translation)

30And I will make his seed to endure for evermore: and his throne as the days of heaven.

31(not in this translation)

31And if his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments:

32(not in this translation)

32If they profane my justices: and keep not my commandments:

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33I will visit their iniquities with a rod and their sins with stripes.

34(not in this translation)

34But my mercy I will not take away from him: nor will I suffer my truth to fail.

35(not in this translation)

35Neither will I profane my covenant: and the words that proceed from my mouth I will not make void.

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36Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David:

37(not in this translation)

37His seed shall endure for ever.

38(not in this translation)

38And his throne as the sun before me: and as the moon perfect for ever, and a faithful witness in heaven.

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39But thou hast rejected and despised: thou hast been angry with my anointed.

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40Thou hast overthrown the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his sanctuary on the earth.

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41Thou hast broken down all his hedges: thou hast made his strength fear.

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42All that pass by the way have robbed him: he is become a reproach to his neighbours.

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43Thou hast set up the right hand of them that oppress him: thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.

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44Thou hast turned away the help of his sword; and hast not assisted him in battle.

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45Thou hast made his purification to cease: and thou hast cast his throne down to the ground.

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46Thou hast shortened the days of his time: thou hast covered him with confusion.

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47How long, O Lord, turnest thou away unto the end? shall thy anger burn like fire?

48(not in this translation)

48Remember what my substance is: for hast thou made all the children of men in vain?

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49Who is the man that shall live, and not see death: that shall deliver his soul from the hand of hell?

50(not in this translation)

50Lord, where are thy ancient mercies, according to what thou didst swear to David in thy truth?

51(not in this translation)

51Be mindful, O Lord, of the reproach of thy servants (which I have held in my bosom) of many nations:

52(not in this translation)

52Wherewith thy enemies have reproached, O Lord; wherewith they have reproached the change of thy anointed.

53(not in this translation)

53Blessed be the Lord for evermore. So be it. So be it.