Psalm 88

1A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: 2Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; 3For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. 4I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: 5Free 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 laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. 7Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah. 8Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. 9Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

10Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah. 11Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? 12Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 13But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. 14Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me? 15I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. 16Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off. 17They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together. 18Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.

King James Version (1769) · public domain

1A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You. 2May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. 3For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. 4I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. 5I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care. 6You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths. 7Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me. Selah 8You have removed my friends from me; You have made me repulsive to them; I am confined and cannot escape. 9My eyes grow dim with grief. I call to You daily, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You.

10Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? Selah 11Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? 12Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion? 13But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You. 14Why, O LORD, do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me? 15From my youth I was afflicted and near death. I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair. 16Your wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me. 17All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side. 18You have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion.

Berean Standard Bible · public domain

1A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Suffering of Affliction.” A contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite. LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you. 2Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry. 3For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol. 4I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help, 5set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand. 6You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. 7Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. Selah. 8You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can’t escape. 9My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, LORD. I have spread out my hands to you.

10Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? Selah. 11Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction? 12Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 13But to you, LORD, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you. 14LORD, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me? 15I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted. 16Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off. 17They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me. 18You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.

World English Bible · public domain