Psalms 88 – NIV & NIRV

New International Version

Psalms 88:1-18

Psalm 88In Hebrew texts 88:1-18 is numbered 88:2-19.

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth.Title: Possibly a tune, “The Suffering of Affliction” A maskilTitle: Probably a literary or musical term of Heman the Ezrahite.

1Lord, 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.88:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.

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 Destruction88:11 Hebrew Abaddon?

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 International Reader’s Version

Psalm 88:1-18

Psalm 88

For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth. A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

1Lord, you are the God who saves me.

Day and night I cry out to you.

2Please hear my prayer.

Pay attention to my cry for help.

3I have so many troubles

I’m about to die.

4People think my life is over.

I’m like someone who doesn’t have any strength.

5People treat me as if I were dead.

I’m like those who have been killed and are now in the grave.

You don’t even remember them anymore.

They are cut off from your care.

6It’s as if you have put me deep down in the grave.

It’s as if you have put me in that deep, dark place.

7Your great anger lies heavy on me.

All the waves of your anger have crashed over me.

8You have taken my closest friends away from me.

You have made me sickening to them.

I feel trapped and can’t escape.

9I’m crying so much I can’t see very well.

Lord, I call out to you every day.

I lift up my hands to you in prayer.

10Do you do wonderful things for those who are dead?

Do their spirits rise up and praise you?

11Do those who are dead speak about your love?

Do those who are in the grave tell how faithful you are?

12Are your wonderful deeds known in that dark place?

Are your holy acts known in that land where the dead are forgotten?

13Lord, I cry out to you for help.

In the morning I pray to you.

14Lord, why do you say no to me?

Why do you turn your face away from me?

15I’ve been in pain ever since I was young.

I’ve been close to death.

You have made me suffer terrible things.

I have lost all hope.

16Your great anger has swept over me.

Your terrors have destroyed me.

17All day long they surround me like a flood.

They have closed in all around me.

18You have taken my friends and neighbors away from me.

Darkness is my closest friend.