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Psalm 88 :: New International Version (NIV)

Psa 88:1[fn]A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth.[fn] A maskil[fn] of Heman the Ezrahite. LORD, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.
Psa 88:2May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
Psa 88:3I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death.
Psa 88:4I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength.
Psa 88:5I 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.
Psa 88:6You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
Psa 88:7Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.[fn]
Psa 88:8You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;
Psa 88:9my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
Psa 88:10Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you?
Psa 88:11Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction[fn]?
Psa 88:12Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
Psa 88:13But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
Psa 88:14Why, LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
Psa 88:15From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
Psa 88:16Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
Psa 88:17All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.
Psa 88:18You have taken from me friend and neighbor— darkness is my closest friend.
NIV Footnotes
In Hebrew texts 88:1-18 is numbered 88:2-19.
Title: Possibly a tune, “The Suffering of Affliction”
Title: Probably a literary or musical term
The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.
Hebrew Abaddon
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Psalm Chapter 88 — Additional Translations: