88:1 A Song, a Psalm of the sons of Korah; for the Chief Musician; set to Mahalath Leannoth. Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.
88:2 Let my prayer enter into your presence; Incline your ear to my cry.
88:3 For my soul is full of troubles, And my life draws near to Sheol.
88:4 I am reckoned with those who go down into the pit; I am as an [able-bodied] man without strength,
88:5 Cast off among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom you remember no more, And they are cut off from your hand.
88:6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in the deeps.
88:7 Your wrath lies hard on me, And you have afflicted me with all your waves. Selah.
88:8 You have put my acquaintances far from me; You have made me disgusting to them: I am shut up, and I can't come forth.
88:9 My eye wastes away by reason of affliction: I have called daily on you, O Yahweh; I have spread forth my hands to you.
88:10 Will you show wonders to the dead? Will the spirits of the dead arise and praise you? Selah.
88:11 Will your loving-kindness be declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
88:12 Will your wonders be known in the dark? And your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
88:13 But to you, O Yahweh, I have cried; And in the morning my prayer will come before you.
88:14 Yahweh, 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 your terrors I am distracted.
88:16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me; Your terrors have cut me off.
88:17 They came round about me like water all the day long; They surrounded me together.
88:18 Lover and companion you have put far from me, My acquaintances into darkness.