Psalm 88

A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director. According to mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

1Yahweh, God of my salvation, by day I cry out, and at night I am before you.

2Let my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.

3For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.

4I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man who has no strength,

5abandoned among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand.

6You have put me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the depths.

7Your wrath lies heavy on me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah.

8You have taken my friends far from me; you have made me repulsive to them. I am shut in and cannot get out;

9my eye grows dim with sorrow. I call on you, Yahweh, every day; I spread out my hands to you.

10Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? Selah.

11Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Abaddon?

12Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13But I cry to you for help, Yahweh; in the morning my prayer comes before you.

14Yahweh, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?

15I have been afflicted and close to death since my youth; I suffer your terrors, and I am in despair.

16Your burning anger has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.

17They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me from every side.

18You have taken friend and neighbor far from me; darkness is my closest companion.