Psalm 88

HCSB

Psalm 88

A Cry of Desperation

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1} A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.^(A)

Lord, God of my salvation,
I cry out before You day and night.^(B)

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May my prayer reach Your presence;
listen to my cry.^(C)

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For I have had enough troubles,
and my life is near Sheol.^(D)

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I am counted among those going down to the Pit.^(E)
I am like a man without strength,^(F)

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abandoned^(a) among the dead.
I am like the slain lying in the grave,^(G)
whom You no longer remember,
and who are cut off from Your care.^(b)^(H)

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You have put me in the lowest part of the Pit,
in the darkest places, in the depths.^(I)

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Your wrath weighs heavily on me;^(J)
You have overwhelmed me with all Your waves.^(K)Selah

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You have distanced my friends from me;
You have made me repulsive to them.^(L)
I am shut in and cannot go out.

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My eyes are worn out from crying.^(M)
Lord, I cry out to You all day long;^(N)
I spread out my hands to You.^(O)

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Do You work wonders for the dead?
Do departed spirits rise up to praise You?^(P)Selah

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Will Your faithful love be declared in the grave,
Your faithfulness in Abaddon?^(Q)

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Will Your wonders be known in the darkness
or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?^(R)

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But I call to You for help, Lord;
in the morning my prayer meets You.^(S)

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Lord, why do You reject me?^(T)
Why do You hide Your face from me?^(U)

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From my youth,
I have been afflicted and near death.
I suffer Your horrors; I am desperate.^(V)

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Your wrath sweeps over me;
Your terrors destroy me.^(W)

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They surround me like water all day long;
they close in on me from every side.^(X)

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You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me;
darkness is my only friend.^(c)^(Y)

Footnotes:

a. Psalm 88:5: Or set free

b. Psalm 88:5: Or hand

c. Psalm 88:18: Or from me, my friends. Oh darkness!

Cross references:

B. Psalm 88:1: Psalm 22:2; Psalm 86:3; Luke 18:7

C. Psalm 88:2: Psalm 18:6; Psalm 31:2; Psalm 86:1

D. Psalm 88:3: Psalm 16:10; Psalm 116:3

E. Psalm 88:4: Psalm 28:1; Psalm 143:7

F. Psalm 88:4: Psalm 61:2

G. Psalm 88:5: Psalm 31:12

H. Psalm 88:5: Psalm 31:22; Isaiah 53:8

I. Psalm 88:6: Psalm 69:15; Psalm 86:13; Ezekiel 26:20

J. Psalm 88:7: Psalm 32:4; Psalm 39:10

K. Psalm 88:7: Psalm 42:7

L. Psalm 88:8: Job 19:13-22; Psalm 31:11

M. Psalm 88:9: Psalm 6:7; Psalm 31:9

N. Psalm 88:9: Psalm 86:3

O. Psalm 88:9: Psalm 143:6

P. Psalm 88:10: Psalm 6:5; Psalm 30:9

Q. Psalm 88:11: Job 26:6; Proverbs 15:11; Proverbs 27:20

R. Psalm 88:12: Ecclesiastes 9:5

S. Psalm 88:13: Psalm 5:3; Psalm 119:147

T. Psalm 88:14: Psalm 43:2

U. Psalm 88:14: Job 13:24; Psalm 10:1; Psalm 13:1

V. Psalm 88:15: Job 31:23

W. Psalm 88:16: Job 6:4; Job 9:34

X. Psalm 88:17: Psalm 22:12; Psalm 22:16; Psalm 118:10-12

Y. Psalm 88:18: Job 19:13; Psalm 31:11; Psalm 38:11