Psalm 88
1
Psalm 88 A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth. [1] A maskil [2] of Heman the Ezrahite.
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O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you.
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May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
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For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave. [3]
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I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength.
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I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
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You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
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Your wrath lies heavily upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah
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You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;
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my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
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Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? Selah
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Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction [4] ?
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Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
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But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
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Why, O LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
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From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair.
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Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
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All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.
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You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.
  1. [Title: Possibly a tune, "The Suffering of Affliction"
  2. [Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. [3] Hebrew Sheol
  4. [11] Hebrew Abaddon