Psalms 88 — FBV

A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korah. For the music director. To the tune “Mahalath Leannoth.” A maskil by Heman the Ezrahite

88Verse 1Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you day and night.
^{Verse 2}Please listen to my prayer; hear my words as I plead with you.
^{Verse 3}My life is full of troubles, and my death is approaching.^{+
Verse 4}I'm counted among the dying; a man with no strength.
^{Verse 5}I am abandoned among the dead, lying like a corpse in the grave, forgotten and beyond your care.
^{Verse 6}You have placed me in a deep pit, in the depths of darkness.
^{Verse 7}Your hostility crushes me; you are drowning me under your crashing waves. Selah.
^{Verse 8}You have made my friends avoid me by making me look repulsive to them. I'm trapped, I can't go out.^{+
Verse 9}I've cried my eyes out begging you every day for your help, Lord, holding out my hands to you.
^{Verse 10}Do you do miracles among the dead? Do the dead stand up to praise you? Selah.
^{Verse 11}Your faithful love—is it mentioned in the grave? Your trustworthiness—is it discussed in the place of destruction?^{+
Verse 12}Are the wonderful things you do known in the darkness? Is your goodness known in the land of forgetfulness?
^{Verse 13}But I cry out to you for help; every morning I pray to you.
^{Verse 14}Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn away from me?
^{Verse 15}I have been sick since I was young, often at death's door. I have had to bear the terrible things you've done to me. I'm in despair!
^{Verse 16}Your anger has overcome me; the terrible things you do have destroyed me.
^{Verse 17}They surround me all the time like floodwaters, swallowing me up.
^{Verse 18}You have made my family and friends avoid me. Darkness is my only friend.