New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures — With References (Rbi8, en_US, 1984)

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Psalms, 88

A song, a melody of the sons of Koʹrah. To the director over Maʹha·lath*1 for making responses. Masʹkil*2 of Heʹman the Ezʹra·hite.

1 O Jehovah, the God of my salvation, By day I have cried out, In the night [also] in front of you.

2 Before you my prayer will come. Incline your ear to my entreating cry.

3 For my soul has had enough of calamities, And my very life has come in touch even with Sheʹol.*1

  1. “With Sheol.” Heb., lish·ʼohlʹ; Gr., haiʹdei; Lat., in·ferʹno. See App 4B.

4 I have been reckoned in among those going down to the pit; I have become like an able-bodied man without strength,

5 Set free among the dead themselves, Like slain ones lying in the burial place, Whom you have remembered no longer And who have been severed from your own [helping] hand.

6 You have put me in a pit of the lowest depths, In dark places, in a large abyss.*1

  1. Lit., “abysses,” pl., likely to denote grandioseness.

7 Upon me your rage has thrown itself, And with all your breaking waves you have afflicted [me]. Seʹlah.

8 You have put my acquaintances far away from me; You have set me as something very detestable to them. I am under restraint and cannot go forth.

9 My own eye has languished because of my affliction. I have called on you, O Jehovah, all day long; To you I have spread out my palms.

10 For those who are dead will you do a marvel? Or will those impotent in death*1 themselves arise, Will they laud you? Seʹlah.

  1. “Those impotent in death.” Heb., repha·ʼimʹ; T, “bodies dissolved in the dust”; LXXVg, “healers (medical doctors)”; Sy, “mighty ones (giants).” Compare Job 26:5 ftn.

11 Will your loving-kindness be declared in the burial place*1 itself, Your faithfulness in [the place of] destruction?*2

  1. “The grave,” LXX; Vg, “sepulcher.”

  2. “In [the place of] destruction.” Heb., ba·ʼavad·dohnʹ; Syr., baʼv·da·naʼ; LXX, “in destruction”; Lat., in per·di·ti·oʹne, “in perdition.” See Job 26:6 ftn.

12 Will a marvel by you be known in the darkness itself, Or your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

13 And yet to you, O Jehovah, I myself have cried for help, And in the morning my own prayer keeps confronting you.

14 Why is it, O Jehovah, that you cast off my soul? Why do you keep your face concealed from me?

15 I am afflicted and about to expire from boyhood on; I have borne frightful things from you very much.*1

  1. “Very much.” Heb., ʼa·phuʹnah, of uncertain meaning; LXXSyVg, “I am embarrassed (confused).”

16 Over me your flashes of burning anger have passed; Terrors from you yourself have brought me to silence.

17 They have surrounded me like waters all day long; They have closed in upon me all at one time.

18 You have put far away from me friend and companion; My acquaintances are a dark place.