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Psalm chapter 88

English Standard Version

1O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. 2Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! 3For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. 4I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength, 5like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. 6You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. 7Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah 8You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; 9 my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you. 10Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah 11Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? 12Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 13But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. 14O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me? 15Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless. 16Your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me. 17They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together. 18You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.
New International Version

1A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.
2May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. 3I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. 4I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength.
5I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. 6You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. 7Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. 8You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;
9my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you. 10Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you? 11Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction ?
12Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion? 13But I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me? 15From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair. 16Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. 17All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me. 18You have taken from me friend and neighbor— darkness is my closest friend.
New American Standard Bible

1Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and in the night before You. 2Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry! 3For my soul has had enough troubles, And my life has approached Sheol. 4I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a man without strength, 5 Abandoned among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You no longer remember, And they are cut off from Your hand. 6You have put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in the depths. 7Your wrath has rested upon me, And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah 8You have removed my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an object of loathing to them; I am shut up and cannot go out. 9My eye grows dim from misery; I have called upon You every day, Lord; I have spread out my hands to You. 10Will You perform wonders for the dead? Or will the departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah 11Will Your graciousness be declared in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? 12Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 13But I, Lord, have cried out to You for help, And in the morning my prayer comes before You. 14Lord, why do You reject my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me? 15I was miserable and about to die from my youth on; I suffer Your terrors; I grow weary. 16Your burning anger has passed over me; Your terrors have destroyed me. 17They have surrounded me like water all day long; They have encircled me altogether. 18You have removed lover and friend far from me; My acquaintances are in a hiding place.
Christian Standard Bible

1A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out before you day and night.
2May my prayer reach your presence; listen to my cry. 3For I have had enough troubles, and my life is near Sheol. 4I am counted among those going down to the Pit. I am like a man without strength,
5abandoned among the dead. I am like the slain lying in the grave, whom you no longer remember, and who are cut off from your care. 6You have put me in the lowest part of the Pit, in the darkest places, in the depths.
7Your wrath weighs heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah 8You have distanced my friends from me; you have made me repulsive to them. I am shut in and cannot go out.
9My eyes are worn out from crying. Lord, I cry out to you all day long; I spread out my hands to you.
10Do you work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise you? Selah 11Will your faithful love be declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12Will your wonders be known in the darkness or your righteousness in the land of oblivion? 13But I call to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer meets you. 14 Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you hide your face from me? 15From my youth, I have been suffering and near death. I suffer your horrors; I am desperate. 16Your wrath sweeps over me; your terrors destroy me. 17They surround me like water all day long; they close in on me from every side. 18You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me; darkness is my only friend.
New Living Translation

1 O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night. 2Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry. 3For my life is full of troubles, and death draws near. 4I am as good as dead, like a strong man with no strength left. 5They have left me among the dead, and I lie like a corpse in a grave. I am forgotten, cut off from your care. 6You have thrown me into the lowest pit, into the darkest depths.
7Your anger weighs me down; with wave after wave you have engulfed me. Interlude
8You have driven my friends away by making me repulsive to them. I am in a trap with no way of escape. 9My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for your help, O Lord; I lift my hands to you for mercy.
10Are your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Interlude
11Can those in the grave declare your unfailing love? Can they proclaim your faithfulness in the place of destruction? 12Can the darkness speak of your wonderful deeds? Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about your righteousness? 13O Lord, I cry out to you. I will keep on pleading day by day. 14O Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me?
15I have been sick and close to death since my youth. I stand helpless and desperate before your terrors. 16Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me. Your terrors have paralyzed me. 17They swirl around me like floodwaters all day long. They have engulfed me completely. 18You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.
King James Version

1A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
2Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
3For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
4I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
5Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
6Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
7Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.
8Thou 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.
9Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
10Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
11Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
12Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
14Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
15I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
16Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
17They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
18Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
New King James Version

1{A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A Contemplation of Heman the Ezrahite.} O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You. 2Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry. 3For my soul is full of troubles, And my life draws near to the grave. 4I am counted with those who go down to the pit; I am like a man who has no strength, 5Adrift among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You remember no more, And who are cut off from Your hand. 6You have laid me in the lowest pit, In darkness, in the depths.
7Your wrath lies heavy upon me, And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah
8 You have put away my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an abomination to them; I am shut up, and I cannot get out; 9My eye wastes away because of affliction. Lord, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You.
10Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise You? Selah
11Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction? 12Shall Your wonders be known in the dark? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 13But to You I have cried out, O Lord, And in the morning my prayer comes before You. 14Lord, why do You cast off my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me? 15I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth; I suffer Your terrors; I am distraught. 16Your fierce wrath has gone over me; Your terrors have cut me off. 17They came around me all day long like water; They engulfed me altogether. 18 Loved one and friend You have put far from me, And my acquaintances into darkness.

What does Psalm chapter 88 mean?

Scripture often records blunt statements about human pain. Many convey open frustration about how God has reacted to their situation (Psalm 73:2–3; Habakkuk 1:2–4). Almost all end with resolve or reassurance (Psalm 73:15–18; Habakkuk 3:17–19). Psalm 88, however, only expresses the psalmist's angst. This psalm is credited both to the Sons of Korah—a group of temple musicians—and to someone named Heman. This may be the same person mentioned in other passages (1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chronicles 2:6). The word ezrāh literally means "native," so some suggest Heman the Ezrahite was of Canaanite ancestry.

Heman's description of his condition is dire. He feels near to death; in fact, he might as well be dead, buried, and forgotten. This comes with a sense that the Lord has turned on him in anger. This feeling of God's wrath is overwhelming, like drowning in rough seas. To make matters worse, close friends have abandoned the psalmist. He feels trapped and hopeless under what seems like the Lord's vicious punishment (Psalm 88:1–9).

Part of the psalmist's frustration is his belief that the dead cannot praise God (Psalm 6:5). The appeal challenges God by pointing out that the psalmist's death would stop him from worship (Psalm 88:10–12).

During this experience, the psalmist feels crushed and flooded, as if under siege. He feels abandoned by the Lord, as if God is discarding him and only sending attacks. Even the psalmist's relatives and trusted friends have turned on him. The final phrase of the psalm can be interpreted to mean that the only remaining friend is darkness, itself (Psalm 88:13–18).
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