PSALM 87

The Privileges of Citizenship in Zion.

A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song.

1 His afoundation is in the holy mountains.

2 The Lord aloves the gates of Zion

More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob.

3 aGlorious things are spoken of you,

O bcity of God.

1Selah.

4 “I shall mention 1aRahab and Babylon 2among those who know Me;

Behold, Philistia and bTyre with 3cEthiopia:

‘This one was born there.’ ”

5 But of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”;

And the Most High Himself will aestablish her.

6 The Lord will count when He aregisters the peoples,

“This one was born there.”

Selah.

7 Then those who asing as well as those who 1bplay the flutes shall say,

“All my csprings of joy are in you.”

PSALM 88

A Petition to Be Saved from Death.

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director; according to Mahalath Leannoth. A †Maskil of Heman •the Ezrahite.

1 O Lord, the aGod of my salvation,

I have bcried out by day and in the night before You.

2 Let my prayer acome before You;

bIncline Your ear to my cry!

3 For my asoul has 1had enough troubles,

And bmy life has drawn near to 2Sheol.

4 I am reckoned among those who ago down to the pit;

I have become like a man bwithout strength,

5 1Forsaken aamong the dead,

Like the slain who lie in the grave,

Whom You remember no more,

And they are bcut off from Your hand.

6 You have put me in athe lowest pit,

In bdark places, in the cdepths.

7 Your wrath ahas rested upon me,

And You have afflicted me with ball Your waves.

1Selah.

8 You have removed amy acquaintances far from me;

You have made me an 1bobject of loathing to them;

I am cshut up and cannot go out.

9 My aeye has wasted away because of affliction;

I have bcalled upon You every day, O Lord;

I have cspread out my 1hands to You.

10 Will You perform wonders for the dead?

Will athe 1departed spirits rise and praise You?

Selah.

11 Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave,

Your faithfulness in 1Abaddon?

12 Will Your wonders be made known in the adarkness?

And Your 1righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But I, O Lord, have cried out ato You for help,

And bin the morning my prayer comes before You.

14 O Lord, why ado You reject my soul?

Why do You bhide Your face from me?

15 I was afflicted and aabout to die from my youth on;

I suffer bYour terrors; I am 1overcome.

16 Your aburning anger has passed over me;

Your terrors have 1bdestroyed me.

17 They have asurrounded me blike water all day long;

They have cencompassed me altogether.

18 You have removed alover and friend far from me;

My acquaintances are in darkness.