Psalm 88

A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

[1] O LORD, God of my salvation,

I cry out day and night before you.

[2] Let my prayer come before you;

incline your ear to my cry!

[3] For my soul is full of troubles,

and my life draws near to Sheol.

[4] I am counted among those who go down to the pit;

I am a man who has no strength,

[5] like one set loose among the dead,

like the slain that lie in the grave,

like those whom you remember no more,

for they are cut off from your hand.

[6] You have put me in the depths of the pit,

in the regions dark and deep.

[7] Your wrath lies heavy upon me,

and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah

[8] You have caused my companions to shun me;

you have made me a horror to them.

I am shut in so that I cannot escape;

[9] my eye grows dim through sorrow.

Every day I call upon you, O LORD;

I spread out my hands to you.

[10] Do you work wonders for the dead?

Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah

[11] Is your steadfast love declared in the grave,

or your faithfulness in Abaddon?

[12] Are your wonders known in the darkness,

or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

[13] But I, O LORD, cry to you;

in the morning my prayer comes before you.

[14] O LORD, why do you cast my soul away?

Why do you hide your face from me?

[15] Afflicted and close to death from my youth up,

I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.

[16] Your wrath has swept over me;

your dreadful assaults destroy me.

[17] They surround me like a flood all day long;

they close in on me together.

[18] You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;

my companions have become darkness. (ESV)

Psummer of Psalms: Psalm 88