Psalm 87–88

Psalm 87

By Korah’s descendants; a psalm; a song. 

¹⸤The city⸥ the Lord has founded ⸤stands⸥ on holy mountains. 

²The Lord loves the city of Zion 

more than any other place in Jacob. 

³Glorious things are said about you, O city of God! 

Selah 

⁴⸤The Lord says,⸥ “I will add Egypt and Babylon 

as well as Philistia, Tyre, and Sudan 

to the list of those who acknowledge me. 

Each nation ⸤will claim that it⸥ was born there.” 

⁵But it will be said of Zion, 

“Every race is born in it. 

The Most High will make it secure.” 

⁶The Lord will record this in the Book of Nations: 

“Every race ⸤claims that it⸥ was born there.” 

Selah 

⁷Singers and dancers will sing, 

“Zion is the source of all our blessings.” 

Psalm 88

A song; a psalm by Korah’s descendants; for the choir director; according to mahalath leannoth;^aa maskil by Heman the Ezrahite. 

¹O Lord God, my savior, 

I cry out to you during the day and at night. 

²Let my prayer come into your presence. 

Turn your ear to hear my cries. 

³My soul is filled with troubles, 

and my life comes closer to the grave. 

⁴I am numbered with those who go into the pit. 

I am like a man without any strength— 

⁵abandoned with the dead, 

like those who have been killed and lie in graves, 

like those whom you no longer remember, 

who are cut off from your power. 

⁶You have put me in the bottom of the pit—in deep, dark places. 

⁷Your rage lies heavily on me. 

You make all your waves pound on me. 

Selah 

⁸You have taken my friends far away from me. 

You made me disgusting to them. 

I’m shut in, and I can’t get out. 

⁹My eyes grow weak because of my suffering. 

All day long I call out to you, O Lord. 

I stretch out my hands to you ⸤in prayer⸥. 

¹⁰Will you perform miracles for those who are dead? 

Will the spirits of the dead rise and give thanks to you? 

Selah 

¹¹Will anyone tell about your mercy in Sheol 

or about your faithfulness in Abaddon? 

¹²Will anyone know about your miracles in that dark place 

or about your righteousness in the place where forgotten people live? 

¹³I cry out to you for help, O Lord, 

and in the morning my prayer will come into your presence. 

¹⁴Why do you reject my soul, O Lord? 

Why do you hide your face from me? 

¹⁵Ever since I was young, I have been suffering and near death. 

I have endured your terrors, and now I am in despair. 

¹⁶Your burning anger has swept over me. 

Your terrors have destroyed me. 

¹⁷They swirl around me all day long like water. 

They surround me on all sides. 

¹⁸You have taken my loved ones and friends far away from me. 

Darkness is my only friend!