Psalms88

Psalm 88 is a profound lament, where the psalmist, Heman the Ezrahite, cries out to the LORD God of his salvation from deep affliction. He describes his soul as full of troubles, drawing nigh unto the grave, and feeling like one counted among the dead. The psalmist expresses a sense of being overwhelmed by God's wrath and abandoned by all his acquaintances, concluding without a typical turn to hope.

Superscription and Invocation

1
A Song, a Psalm, by sons of Korah, to the Overseer, `Concerning the Sickness of Afflictions.' --An instruction, by Heman the Ezrahite. O Jehovah, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly before Thee,
2
My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,

Near Death and Utter Isolation

3
For my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come to Sheol.
4
I have been reckoned with those going down to the pit, I have been as a man without strength.
5
Among the dead--free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom Thou hast not remembered any more, Yea, they by Thy hand have been cut off.
6
Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
7
Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And with all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. Selah.
8
Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up--I go not forth.
9
Mine eye hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands.

The Rhetoric of the Grave

10
To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? Selah.
11
Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?
12
Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13
And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.

Abandoned by God and Man

14
Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me.
15
I am afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors--I pine away.
16
Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,
17
They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,
18
Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance is the place of darkness!
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