The Privileges of Citizenship in Zion.

A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song.

87 His (A)foundation is in the holy mountains.
The Lord (B)loves the gates of Zion
More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob.
(C)Glorious things are spoken of you,
O (D)city of God. [a]Selah.
“I shall mention [b](E)Rahab and Babylon [c]among those who know Me;
Behold, Philistia and (F)Tyre with [d](G)Ethiopia:
‘This one was born there.’”
But of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”;
And the Most High Himself will (H)establish her.
The Lord will count when He (I)registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah.
Then those who (J)sing as well as those who [e](K)play the flutes shall say,
“All my (L)springs of joy are in you.”

A Petition to Be Saved from Death.

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director; according to Mahalath Leannoth. A [f]Maskil of Heman [g]the Ezrahite.

88 O Lord, the (M)God of my salvation,
I have (N)cried out by day and in the night before You.
Let my prayer (O)come before You;
(P)Incline Your ear to my cry!
For my (Q)soul has [h]had enough troubles,
And (R)my life has drawn near to [i]Sheol.
I am reckoned among those who (S)go down to the pit;
I have become like a man (T)without strength,
[j]Forsaken (U)among the dead,
Like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom You remember no more,
And they are (V)cut off from Your hand.
You have put me in (W)the lowest pit,
In (X)dark places, in the (Y)depths.
Your wrath (Z)has rested upon me,
And You have afflicted me with (AA)all Your waves. [k]Selah.
You have removed (AB)my acquaintances far from me;
You have made me an [l](AC)object of loathing to them;
I am (AD)shut up and cannot go out.
My (AE)eye has wasted away because of affliction;
I have (AF)called upon You every day, O Lord;
I have (AG)spread out my [m]hands to You.

10 Will You perform wonders for the dead?
Will (AH)the [n]departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah.
11 Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave,
Your faithfulness in [o]Abaddon?
12 Will Your wonders be made known in the (AI)darkness?
And Your [p]righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But I, O Lord, have cried out (AJ)to You for help,
And (AK)in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14 O Lord, why (AL)do You reject my soul?
Why do You (AM)hide Your face from me?
15 I was afflicted and (AN)about to die from my youth on;
I suffer (AO)Your terrors; I am [q]overcome.
16 Your (AP)burning anger has passed over me;
Your terrors have [r](AQ)destroyed me.
17 They have (AR)surrounded me (AS)like water all day long;
They have (AT)encompassed me altogether.
18 You have removed (AU)lover and friend far from me;
My acquaintances are in darkness.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 87:3 Selah may mean: Pause, Crescendo or Musical interlude
  2. Psalm 87:4 I.e. Egypt
  3. Psalm 87:4 Or as
  4. Psalm 87:4 Lit Cush
  5. Psalm 87:7 Or dance
  6. Psalm 88:1 Possibly, Contemplative, or Didactic, or Skillful Psalm
  7. Psalm 88:1 1 Kin 4:31; 1 Chr 2:6; Ps 89: title
  8. Psalm 88:3 Or been satisfied with
  9. Psalm 88:3 I.e. the nether world
  10. Psalm 88:5 Lit A freed one among the dead
  11. Psalm 88:7 Selah may mean: Pause, Crescendo or Musical interlude
  12. Psalm 88:8 Lit abomination to them
  13. Psalm 88:9 Lit palms
  14. Psalm 88:10 Or ghosts, shades
  15. Psalm 88:11 I.e. place of destruction
  16. Psalm 88:12 I.e. faithfulness to His gracious promises
  17. Psalm 88:15 Or embarrassed
  18. Psalm 88:16 Or silenced