Psa 88 | LEB | STEP | A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the music director; according to Mahalath Leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O Yahweh, God of my salvation, I cry out by day and through the night before you.

Psalms 88

A Prayer for Help in Despair

A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

For the music director; according to Mahalath Leannoth.
A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. ^{▼▼The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one}
1 O Yahweh, God of my salvation,
I cry out by day and through the night before you.
2 Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry.
3 For my soul is full with troubles,
and my life approaches Sheol.
4 I am reckoned with those descending to the pit.
I am like a man ^{▼▼The Hebrew suggests a strong, vigorous man} without strength, ^{▼▼Or “without help”}
5 set free ^{▼▼Or “forsaken”} among the dead,
like the slain lying in the grave,
whom you no longer remember,
even those cut off from your hand.
6 You have set me in the pit below,
in dark places, in the depths.
7 Your wrath presses upon me,
and you afflict me with all your waves. Selah
8 You have removed my acquaintances far from me.
You have made me detestable ^{▼▼Hebrew “an abomination”} to them.
I am confined and cannot go out.
9 My eye languishes from misery.
I call on you, O Yahweh, every day;
I spread out my hands ^{▼▼Hebrew “palms”} to you.
10 Do you work wonders ^{▼▼Hebrew “wonder”} for the dead?
Or do the departed spirits ^{▼▼Hebrew rephaim, sometimes translated “shades”; the weakened state of those who have died} rise up to praise you? Selah
11 Is your loyal love told in the grave,
or your faithfulness in the underworld? ^{▼▼Hebrew abaddon, the place of destruction}
12 Are your wonders ^{▼▼Hebrew “wonder”} known in the darkness,
or your righteousness ^{▼▼Or “deed of justice”} in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But as for me, I cry for help to you, O Yahweh,
and in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Why do you reject my soul, O Yahweh?
Why do you hide your face from me?
15 I am afflicted and perishing from my youth.
I bear your terrors. I am distraught. ^{▼▼Hebrew meaning uncertain}
16 Your burning anger has passed over me;
your sudden fears have destroyed me.
17 They surround me like water all the day;
they circle about me altogether.
18 You have removed loved one and friend far from me,
my acquaintances far from my darkness.