A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "The Suffering of Affliction." A contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite.

88:1 Yahweh, the God of my salvation,

I have cried day and night before you.

88:2 Let my prayer enter into your presence.

Turn your ear to my cry.

88:3 For my soul is full of troubles.

My life draws near to Sheol.

88:4 I am counted among those who go down into the pit.

I am like a man who has no help,

88:5 set apart among the dead,

like the slain who lie in the grave,

whom you remember no more.

They are cut off from your hand.

88:6 You have laid me in the lowest pit,

in the darkest depths.

88:7 Your wrath lies heavily on me.

You have afflicted me with all your waves.

Selah.

88:8 You have taken my friends from me.

You have made me an abomination to them.

I am confined, and I can't escape.

88:9 My eyes are dim from grief.

I have called on you daily, Yahweh.

I have spread out my hands to you.

88:10 Do you show wonders to the dead?

Do the dead rise up and praise you?

Selah.

88:11 Is your loving kindness declared in the grave?

Or your faithfulness in Destruction?

88:12 Are your wonders made known in the dark?

Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

88:13 But to you, Yahweh, I have cried.

In the morning, my prayer comes before you.

88:14 Yahweh, why do you reject 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 around me like water all day long.

They completely engulfed me.

88:18 You have put lover and friend far from me,

and my friends into darkness.