Psalm 88:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you.

NIV: A 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.

NASB: Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and in the night before You.

CSB: A 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.

NLT: O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night.

KJV: A 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:

NKJV: {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.

Psalm 88:1–9 opens a prayer for God to relieve suffering. The psalmist thinks of himself as "as good as dead" because of his extreme troubles. This mourning of deep sorrow includes images of drowning, darkness, and the realm of the dead. Even friends have abandoned him and he feels trapped.

The psalmist uses a variety of phrases to express deep despair and anguish. He is considered as good as dead, like someone already buried and forgotten by others. The impression that God is judging him is like drowning in an ocean. Even close friends are absent. The psalmist claims he cannot praise or worship God if he dies.

This is considered one of the darkest passages in Scripture. Most psalms which express deep pain resolve into statements of assurance (Psalm 3; 74; 142). Yet Psalm 88 only records the psalmist's angst and frustration; there is no suggested resolution. Scripture acknowledges the struggles faced by imperfect people in an imperfect world (Habakkuk 1:2–4) and that the Lord can hear even our frustrated prayers (Romans 8:26). Little else is known about this Heman, though he may be the same mentioned in other Scriptures (1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chronicles 2:6). Psalm 88 is the last associated with the Sons of Korah.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/22/2024 8:20:52 AM