Psalm 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. s

1 Lord, God of my salvation,

I cry out before You day and night. t

2 May my prayer reach Your presence;

listen to my cry. u

3 For I have had enough troubles,

and my life is near * Sheol. v

4 I am counted among those going down to the * Pit. w

I am like a man without strength, x

5 abandoned y among the dead.

I am like the slain lying in the grave, z

whom You no longer remember,

and who are cut off from Your care. a b

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

in the darkest places, in the depths. c

7 Your wrath weighs heavily on me; d

You have overwhelmed me with all Your waves. e * Selah

8 You have distanced my friends from me;

You have made me repulsive to them. f

I am shut in and cannot go out.

9 My eyes are worn out from crying. g

Lord, I cry out to You all day long; h

I spread out my hands to You. i

10 Do You work wonders for the dead?

Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? j Selah

11 Will Your faithful love be declared in the grave,

Your faithfulness in * Abaddon? k

12 Will Your wonders be known in the darkness

or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion? l

13 But I call to You for help, Lord;

in the morning my prayer meets You. m

14 Lord, why do You reject me? n

Why do You hide Your face from me? o

15 From my youth,

I have been afflicted and near death.

I suffer Your horrors; I am desperate. p

16 Your wrath sweeps over me;

Your terrors destroy me. q

17 They surround me like water all day long;

they close in on me from every side. r

18 You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me;

darkness is my only friend. s t