Psalm 87–88

Psalm 87

Zion, the City of God

A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.

¹His foundation is on the holy mountains. ^k

²The Lord loves the gates of Zion

more than all the dwellings of Jacob. ^l

³Glorious things are said about you,

city of God. ^mSelah

⁴“I will mention those who know Me:

Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush—

each one was born there.” ⁿ

⁵And it will be said of Zion,

“This one and that one were born in her.”

The Most High Himself will establish her. ^o

⁶When He registers the peoples,

the Lord will record,

“This one was born there.” ^pSelah

⁷Singers and dancers alike will say,

“My whole source of joy is ^qin you.” ^r

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

¹Lord, God of my salvation,

I cry out before You day and night. ^t

²May my prayer reach Your presence;

listen to my cry. ^u

³For I have had enough troubles,

and my life is near Sheol. ^v

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

I am like a man without strength, ^x

⁵abandoned ^yamong 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. ^ab

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

in the darkest places, in the depths. ^c

⁷Your wrath weighs heavily on me; ^d

You have overwhelmed me with all Your waves. ^eSelah

⁸You have distanced my friends from me;

You have made me repulsive to them. ^f

I am shut in and cannot go out.

⁹My 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

¹⁰Do You work wonders for the dead?

Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? ^jSelah

¹¹Will Your faithful love be declared in the grave,

Your faithfulness in Abaddon? ^k

¹²Will Your wonders be known in the darkness

or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion? ^l

¹³But I call to You for help, Lord;

in the morning my prayer meets You. ^m

¹⁴Lord, why do You reject me? ⁿ

Why do You hide Your face from me? ^o

¹⁵From my youth,

I have been afflicted and near death.

I suffer Your horrors; I am desperate. ^p

¹⁶Your wrath sweeps over me;

Your terrors destroy me. ^q

¹⁷They surround me like water all day long;

they close in on me from every side. ^r

¹⁸You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me;

darkness is my only friend. ^st