The Book of Psalms

O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You.

May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry.

For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.

I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength.

I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care.

You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths.

Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me.

Selah You have removed my friends from me; You have made me repulsive to them; I am confined and cannot escape.

My eyes grow dim with grief. I call to You daily, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You.

Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You?

Selah Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon (a)?

Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You.

Why, O LORD, do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me?

From my youth I was afflicted and near death. I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair.

Your wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me.

All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side.

You have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion.

(a)88:11 Abaddon means Destruction.

LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.

Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.

For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol.(a)

I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,

set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand.

You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.

Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. Selah.

You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can’t escape.

My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, LORD. I have spread out my hands to you.

Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? Selah.

Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?

Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

But to you, LORD, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.

LORD, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?

I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.

Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.

They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.

You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.

(a)88:3 Sheol is the place of the dead.