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. O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you.

88:2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.

88:3 For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave.

88:4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man 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 upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah

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, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you.

88:10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? Selah

88:11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?

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, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.

88:14 Why, O LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me?

88:15 From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered 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 my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.