Psalm 88

A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.

88:1

¶ O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:

88:2

Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;

88:3

For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

88:4

I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:

88:5

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.

88:6

Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

88:7

Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy 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.

88:9

Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

88:10

Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.

88:11

Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?

88:12

Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy 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.

88:14

LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?

88:15

I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

88:16

Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.

88:17

They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.

88:18

Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.

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