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.