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 (88:1)

Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry (88:2)

For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave (88:3)

I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength (88:4)

Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand (88:5)

Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps (88:6)

Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah (88:7)

Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth (88:8)

Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee (88:9)

Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah (88:10)

Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction (88:11)

Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness (88:12)

But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee (88:13)

Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me (88:14)

I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted (88:15)

Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off (88:16)

They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together (88:17)

Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness (88:18)

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