Psalm 88

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

1        Lord God, my Saviour, day and night

                   before thee cry'd have I.

2        Before thee let my prayer come;

                   give ear unto my cry.

3        For troubles great do fill my soul;

                   my life draws nigh the grave.

4        I'm counted with those that go down

                   to pit, and no strength have.

5        Ev'n free among the dead, like them

                   that slain in grave do lie;

          Cut off from thy hand, whom no more

                   thou hast in memory.

6        Thou hast me laid in lowest pit,

                   in deeps and darksome caves.

7        Thy wrath lies hard on me, thou hast

                   me press'd with all thy waves.

8        Thou hast put far from me my friends,

                   thou mad'st them to abhor me;

          And I am so shut up, that I

                   find no evasion for me.

9        By reason of affliction

                   mine eye mourns dolefully:

          To thee, Lord, do I call, and stretch

                   my hands continually.

10      Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead?

                   shall they rise, and thee bless?

11      Shall in the grave thy love be told?

                   in death thy faithfulness?

12      Shall thy great wonders in the dark,

                   or shall thy righteousness

          Be known to any in the land

                   of deep forgetfulness?

13      But, Lord, to thee I cry'd; my pray'r

                   at morn prevent shall thee.

14      Why, Lord, dost thou cast off my soul,

                    and hid'st thy face from me?

15      Distress'd am I, and from my youth

                   I ready am to die;

          Thy terrors I have borne, and am

                   distracted fearfully.

16      The dreadful fierceness of thy wrath

                   quite over me doth go:

          Thy terrors great have cut me off,

                   they did pursue me so.

17      For round about me ev'ry day,

                   like water, they did roll;

          And, gathering together, they

                   have compassed my soul.

18      My friends thou hast put far from me,

                   and him that did me love;

          And those that mine acquaintance were

                   to darkness didst remove.