Psalm 87–88

Psalm 87

A psalm of the Sons of Korah. A song.

¹The Lord has built his city

on the holy mountain.

²He loves the city of Zion

more than all of the other places

where the people of Jacob live.

³City of God,

the Lord says glorious things about you. Selah

⁴He says, “I will include Egypt and Babylon

in a list of those who recognize me as king.

I will also include Philistia and Tyre, along with Cush.

I will say about them, ‘They were born in Zion.’ ”

⁵Certainly it will be said about Zion,

“This nation and that nation were born in her.

The Most High God himself will make her secure.”

⁶Here is what the Lord will write in his list of the nations.

“Each of them was born in Zion.” Selah

⁷As they make music they will sing,

“Zion, all of our blessings come from you.”

Psalm 88

For the director of music. For mahalath leannoth. A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

¹Lord, you are the God who saves me.

Day and night I cry out to you.

²Please hear my prayer.

Pay attention to my cry for help.

³I have so many troubles

I’m about to die.

⁴People think my life is over.

I’m like someone who doesn’t have any strength.

⁵People treat me as if I were dead.

I’m like those who have been killed and are now in the grave.

You don’t even remember them anymore.

They are cut off from your care.

⁶It seems as if you have put me deep down in the grave,

that deep and dark place.

⁷Your burning anger lies heavy on me.

All the waves of your anger have crashed over me. Selah

⁸You have taken my closest friends away from me.

You have made me sickening to them.

I feel trapped. I can’t escape.

⁹I’m crying so much I can’t see very well.

Lord, I call out to you every day.

I lift up my hands to you in prayer.

¹⁰Do you work miracles for those who are dead?

Do dead people rise up and praise you? Selah

¹¹Do those who are dead speak about your love?

Do those who are in the grave tell how faithful you are?

¹²Are your miracles known in that dark place?

Are your holy acts known in that land where the dead are forgotten?

¹³Lord, I cry out to you for help.

In the morning I pray to you.

¹⁴Lord, why do you say no to me?

Why do you turn your face away from me?

¹⁵I’ve been in pain ever since I was young.

I’ve been close to death.

You have made me suffer terrible things.

I have lost all hope.

¹⁶Your burning anger has swept over me.

Your terrors have destroyed me.

¹⁷All day long they surround me like a flood.

They have closed in all around me.

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

The darkness is my closest friend.