88:1 {A Song [or] Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.} O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day [and] night before thee:
88:1 A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to 'Mahalath Leannoth.' A Contemplation of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You.

88:2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
88:2 Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry.

88:3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
88:3 For my soul is full of troubles, And my life draws near to the grave.

88:4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man [that hath] no strength:
88:4 I am counted with those who go down to the pit; I am like a man who has no strength,

88:5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
88:5 Adrift among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You remember no more, And who are cut off from Your hand.

88:6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
88:6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, In darkness, in the depths.

88:7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted [me] with all thy waves. Selah.
88:7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah

88:8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: [I am] shut up, and I cannot come forth.
88:8 You have put away my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an abomination to them; I am shut up, and I cannot get out;

88:9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
88:9 My eye wastes away because of affliction. LORD, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You.

88:10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise [and] praise thee? Selah.
88:10 Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise You? Selah

88:11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? [or] thy faithfulness in destruction?
88:11 Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction?

88:12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
88:12 Shall Your wonders be known in the dark? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

88:13 But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
88:13 But to You I have cried out, O LORD, And in the morning my prayer comes before You.

88:14 LORD, why castest thou off my soul? [why] hidest thou thy face from me?
88:14 LORD, why do You cast off my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me?

88:15 I [am] afflicted and ready to die from [my] youth up: [while] I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
88:15 I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth; I suffer Your terrors; I am distraught.

88:16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
88:16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me; Your terrors have cut me off.

88:17 They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
88:17 They came around me all day long like water; They engulfed me altogether.

88:18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, [and] mine acquaintance into darkness.
88:18 Loved one and friend You have put far from me, And my acquaintances into darkness.