88:1 A Song, a Psalm, by sons of Korah, to the Overseer, `Concerning the Sickness of Afflictions.' -- An instruction, by Heman the Ezrahite. O Jehovah, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly before Thee,
88:2 My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,
88:3 For my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come to Sheol.
88:4 I have been reckoned with those going down [to] the pit, I have been as a man without strength.
88:5 Among the dead -- free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom Thou hast not remembered any more, Yea, they by Thy hand have been cut off.
88:6 Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.
88:7 Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And [with] all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. Selah.
88:8 Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up -- I go not forth.
88:9 Mine eye hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands.
88:10 To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? Selah.
88:11 Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?
88:12 Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
88:13 And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.
88:14 Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me.
88:15 I [am] afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors -- I pine away.
88:16 Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,
88:17 They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,
88:18 Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance [is] the place of darkness!
