Psalms 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. # 88:title 1Kg 4:31; 1Ch 2:6

1 Lord, God of my salvation,

I cry out before you day and night.  * 88:1 Ps 22:2; 86:3; Lk 18:7

2 May my prayer reach your presence;

listen to my cry.  * 88:2 Ps 18:6; 31:2; 86:1

3 For I have had enough troubles,

and my life is near Sheol.  * 88:3 Ps 16:10; 116:3

4 I am counted among those going down to the Pit.  * 88:4 Ps 28:1; 143:7

I am like a man without strength,  * 88:4 Ps 61:2

5 abandoned  * 88:5 Or set free among the dead.

I am like the slain lying in the grave,  * 88:5 Ps 31:12

whom you no longer remember,

and who are cut off from your care.  * 88:5 Or hand,* 88:5 Ps 31:22; Is 53:8

6 You have put me in the lowest part of the Pit,

in the darkest places, in the depths.  * 88:6 Ps 69:15; 86:13; Ezk 26:20

7 Your wrath weighs heavily on me;  * 88:7 Ps 32:4; 39:10

you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.  * 88:7 Ps 42:7Selah

8 You have distanced my friends from me;

you have made me repulsive to them.  * 88:8 Jb 19:13–22; Ps 31:11

I am shut in and cannot go out.

9 My eyes are worn out from crying.  * 88:9 Ps 6:7; 31:9

Lord, I cry out to you all day long;  * 88:9 Ps 86:3

I spread out my hands to you.  * 88:9 Ps 143:6

10 Do you work wonders for the dead?

Do departed spirits rise up to praise you?  * 88:10 Ps 6:5; 30:9Selah

11 Will your faithful love be declared in the grave,

your faithfulness in Abaddon?  * 88:11 Jb 26:6; Pr 15:11; 27:20

12 Will your wonders be known in the darkness

or your righteousness in the land of oblivion?  * 88:12 Ec 9:5

13 But I call to you for help,  Lord;

in the morning my prayer meets you.  * 88:13 Ps 5:3; 119:147

14 Lord, why do you reject me?  * 88:14 Ps 43:2

Why do you hide your face from me?  * 88:14 Jb 13:24; Ps 10:1; 13:1

15 From my youth,

I have been suffering and near death.

I suffer your horrors; I am desperate.  * 88:15 Jb 31:23

16 Your wrath sweeps over me;

your terrors destroy me.  * 88:16 Jb 6:4; 9:34

17 They surround me like water all day long;

they close in on me from every side.  * 88:17 Ps 22:12,16; 118:10–12

18 You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me;

darkness is my only friend.  * 88:18 Or from me, my friends. Oh darkness!,* 88:18 Jb 19:13; Ps 31:11; 38:11