Psalm 88
A Cry of Desperation
A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. y
1 LORD, God of my salvation,
I cry out before you day and night. z
2 May my prayer reach your presence;
listen to my cry. a
3 For I have had enough troubles,
and my life is near Sheol. b
4 I am counted among those going down to the Pit. c
I am like a man without strength, d
5 abandoned B among the dead.
I am like the slain lying in the grave, e
whom you no longer remember,
and who are cut off from your care. C,f
6 You have put me in the lowest part of the Pit,
in the darkest places, in the depths. g
7 Your wrath weighs heavily on me; h
you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. i Selah
8 You have distanced my friends from me;
you have made me repulsive to them. j
I am shut in and cannot go out.
9 My eyes are worn out from crying. k
LORD, I cry out to you all day long; l
I spread out my hands to you. m
10 Do you work wonders for the dead?
Do departed spirits rise up to praise you? n Selah
11 Will your faithful love be declared in the grave,
your faithfulness in Abaddon? o
12 Will your wonders be known in the darkness
or your righteousness in the land of oblivion? p
13 But I call to you for help, LORD;
in the morning my prayer meets you.q
14 LORD, why do you reject me? r
Why do you hide your face from me?s
I have been suffering and near death.
I suffer your horrors; I am desperate. t
your terrors destroy me. u
17 They surround me like water all day long;
they close in on me from every side. v