88:1 A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, my God, I call for help by day; I cry out in the night before thee.
88:1 A Song. A Psalm of the Korahites. To the leader: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence,

88:2 Let my prayer come before thee, incline thy ear to 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 draws near to Sheol.
88:3 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.

88:4 I am reckoned among those who go down to the Pit; I am a man who has no strength,
88:4 I am counted among those who go down to the Pit; I am like those who have no help,

88:5 like one forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom thou dost remember no more, for they are cut off from thy hand.
88:5 like those forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand.

88:6 Thou hast put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep.
88:6 You have put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep.

88:7 Thy wrath lies heavy upon me, and thou dost overwhelm me with all thy waves. [Selah]
88:7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah

88:8 Thou hast caused my companions to shun me; thou hast made me a thing of horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape;
88:8 You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a thing of horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape;

88:9 my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon thee, O LORD; I spread out my hands to thee.
88:9 my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call on you, O LORD; I spread out my hands to you.

88:10 Dost thou work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise thee? [Selah]
88:10 Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise you? Selah

88:11 Is thy steadfast love declared in the grave, or thy faithfulness in Abaddon?
88:11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon?

88:12 Are thy wonders known in the darkness, or thy saving help in the land of forgetfulness?
88:12 Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness?

88:13 But I, O LORD, cry to thee; in the morning my prayer comes before thee.
88:13 But I, O LORD, cry out to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.

88:14 O LORD, why dost thou cast me off? Why dost thou hide thy face from me?
88:14 O LORD, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me?

88:15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer thy terrors; I am helpless.
88:15 Wretched and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am desperate.

88:16 Thy wrath has swept over me; thy dread assaults destroy me.
88:16 Your wrath has swept over me; your dread assaults destroy me.

88:17 They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in upon me together.
88:17 They surround me like a flood all day long; from all sides they close in on me.

88:18 Thou hast caused lover and friend to shun me; my companions are in darkness.
88:18 You have caused friend and neighbor to shun me; my companions are in darkness.