88:1 A Song, a Psalm of the sons of Korah; for the Leader; upon Mahalath Leannoth. Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.
88:2 O the Lord, God of my salvation, what time I cry in the night before Thee,
88:3 Let my prayer come before Thee, incline Thine ear unto my cry.
88:4 For my soul is sated with troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
88:5 I am counted with them that go down into the pit; I am become as a man that hath no help;
88:6 Set apart among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom Thou rememberest no more; and they are cut off from Thy hand.
88:7 Thou hast laid me in the nether-most pit, in dark places, in the deeps.
88:8 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and all Thy waves Thou pressest down. Selah
88:9 Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me; Thou hast made me an abomination unto them; I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
88:10 Mine eye languisheth by reason of affliction; I have called upon Thee, O the Lord, every day, I have spread forth my hands unto Thee.
88:11 Wilt Thou work wonders for the dead? Or shall the shades arise and give Thee thanks? Selah
88:12 Shall Thy mercy be declared in the grave? or Thy faithfulness in destruction?
88:13 Shall Thy wonders be known in the dark? and Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
88:14 But as for me, unto Thee, O the Lord, do I cry, and in the morning doth my prayer come to meet Thee.
88:15 the Lord, why castest Thou off my soul? Why hidest Thou Thy face from me?
88:16 I am afflicted and at the point of death from my youth up; I have borne Thy terrors, I am distracted.
88:17 Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; Thy terrors have cut me off.
88:18 They came round about me like water all the day; they compassed me about together.
88:19 Friend and companion hast Thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.