Psalms

A Song, a Melody. For the Sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. On “Mahalath.” For alternate Song. An Instructive Psalm. By Heman the Ezrahite.

88 O Yahweh, God of my salvation, By day have I made outcry, In the night [also] before thee.

2 Let my prayer come into thy presence, Bow down thine ear to my loud cry.

3 For my soul is sated with misfortunes, And my life—unto Hades hath drawn near;

4 I am counted with them who descend into the pit, I have become as a man that is without help;

5 Among the dead is my couch,—Like the slain that lie in the grave, Where thou rememberest them no more, Yea they from thy hand are cut off;

6 Thou hast laid me In the lowest pit, In dark places, In the deeps:

7 Upon me hath rested thine indignation, And with all thy breakers hast thou caused affliction. [Selah.

8 Thou hast far removed mine acquaintances from me,—Thou hast made me an abomination unto them, Shut up and I cannot go forth!

9 Mine eye hath dimmed through affliction; I have called upon thee, O Yahweh, all day long, I have spread out unto thee my hands.

10 For the dead wilt thou perform a wonder? Or shall the shades arising give thee thanks? [Selah.

11 Shall Thy lovingkindness be recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness, in destruction?

12 Shall any wonder of thine be known in the dark? Or thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But I unto thee O Yahweh have cried for help, And in the morning my prayer will confront thee!

14 Wherefore, O Yahweh, shouldst thou reject my soul? shouldst thou hide thy face from me?

15 Afflicted have I been and dying from youth, I have borne the terror of thee—I shall be distracted!

16 Over me have passed thy bursts of burning anger, The alarms of thee have put an end to me;

17 They have surrounded me like waters all the day, They have come circling against me together:

18 Thou hast far removed from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintances are in darkness.