88:1 *[A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth.** A maskil^ of Heman the Ezrahite.] Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. / *In Hebrew texts 88:1-18 is numbered 88:2-19. / **Title: Possibly a tune, “The Suffering of Affliction” / ^Title: Probably a literary or musical term
88:2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
88:3 I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death.
88:4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength.
88:5 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.
88:6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
88:7 Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.* / *The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.
88:8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;
88:9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
88:10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you?
88:11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction*? / *Hebrew Abaddon
88:12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
88:13 But I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
88:14 Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
88:15 From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
88:16 Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
88:17 All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.
88:18 You have taken from me friend and neighbor - darkness is my closest friend.