Psalm, 88

A song. A melody of the sons of Korʹah. To the director; in the style of Maʹha·lath,^*1 to be sung alternately. Masʹkil^*2 of Heʹman the Ezʹra·hite.

¹ O Jehovah, the God of my salvation, By day I cry out, And by night I come before you.

² Let my prayer come to you, Incline your ear^*1 to my cry for help.

³ For my soul^*1 has been filled with calamity, And my life is on the brink of the Grave.^*2

⁴ I am already counted among those going down to the pit;^*1 I have become a helpless man,^*2

⁵ Left among the dead Like the slain lying in a grave, Whom you remember no longer And who have been separated from your care.^*1

⁶ You have put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in a large abyss.

⁷ Your rage weighs heavily on me, And you overwhelm me with your crashing waves. (Selah)

⁸ You have driven my acquaintances far away from me; You have made me something detestable to them. I am trapped and cannot escape.

⁹ My eye is worn out because of my affliction. I call on you, O Jehovah, all day long; To you I spread out my hands.

¹⁰ Will you perform wonders for the dead? Can those powerless in death rise up to praise you? (Selah)

¹¹ Will your loyal love be declared in the grave, Your faithfulness in the place of destruction?^*1

¹² Will your wonders be known in the darkness Or your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

¹³ But I still cry to you for help, O Jehovah, Each morning my prayer comes before you.

¹⁴ Why, O Jehovah, do you reject me?^*1 Why do you hide your face from me?

¹⁵ From my youth on, I have been afflicted and ready to perish; I am numb from the terrible things you allow me to suffer.

¹⁶ Your burning anger overwhelms me; Your terrors destroy me.

¹⁷ They surround me like waters all day long; They close in on me from all sides.^*1

¹⁸ You have driven my friends and companions far away from me; Darkness has become my companion.