Psalms 88

¹A song, a psalm of the sons of Korah, for the music director, for singing Mahalath, a contemplative song of Heman the Ezrahite.

²Adonai , God of my salvation, day and night I cried out before You.

³Let my prayer come before You. Turn Your ear to my cry.

⁴For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol .

⁵I am counted with those who go down into the Pit. I have become as one with no strength—

⁶abandoned among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom You remember no more— cut off from Your hand.

⁷You have laid me in the lowest places, in dark places, in the depths.

⁸Your wrath lies heavily on me. You afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah

⁹You have put my companions far from me. You have made me repulsive to them. I am shut in and I cannot go out.

¹⁰My eye fails from affliction. I call upon You every day, Adonai . I spread out my hands to You.

¹¹Will You work wonders for the dead? Or will the departed spirits rise up praising You? Selah

¹²Will Your love be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in the place of ruin?

¹³Will Your wonders be known in the darkness? Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

¹⁴But I—I cried out to You, Adonai , and in the morning my prayer meets You.

¹⁵Adonai , why do You spurn me? Why do You hide Your face from me?

¹⁶From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death. I suffer Your terrors—I am desperate!

¹⁷Your fury has swept over me. Your terrors have cut me off.

¹⁸Like water they surge around me all day. They close in on me together.

¹⁹Friend and loved one You took far from me. Darkness has become my companion.