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88 O Jehovah, God of my salvation, I have wept before you day and night. Now hear my prayers; oh, listen to my cry, for my life is full of troubles, and death draws near. They say my life is ebbing out—a hopeless case. They have left me here to die, like those slain on battlefields from whom your mercies are removed.

You have thrust me down to the darkest depths. Your wrath lies heavy on me; wave after wave engulfs me. You have made my friends to loathe me, and they have gone away. I am in a trap with no way out. My eyes grow dim with weeping. Each day I beg your help; O Lord, I reach my pleading hands to you for mercy.

10 Soon it will be too late! Of what use are your miracles when I am in the grave? How can I praise you then? 11 Can those in the grave declare your loving-kindness? Can they proclaim your faithfulness? 12 Can the darkness speak of your miracles? Can anyone in the Land of Forgetfulness talk about your help?

13 O Lord, I plead for my life and will keep on pleading day by day. 14 O Jehovah, why have you thrown my life away? Why are you turning your face from me and looking the other way?

15 From my youth I have been sickly and ready to die. I stand helpless before your terrors. 16 Your fierce wrath has overwhelmed me. Your terrors have cut me off. 17 They flow around me all day long. 18 Lover, friend, acquaintance—all are gone. There is only darkness everywhere.

Et nødråb i sygdom

88 Til korlederen: En sang af ezraitten Heman fra Koras slægt i mahalat-stil.[a]

Herre, min Gud, jeg råber til dig om dagen,
    jeg kalder på dig om natten.
Lad min bøn nå frem til dig,
    lyt til mit råb om hjælp.
Min sjæl er tynget af problemer,
    jeg befinder mig på gravens rand.
Man betragter mig allerede som død,
    et menneske, der har mistet sin kraft.
Man ser på mig som et lig,
    der ligger i sin grav,
som et menneske, der snart bliver glemt
    og ikke længere nyder godt af din hjælp.
Du har kastet mig i det dybe hul,
    i den mørkeste afgrund.
Din straf tynger mig til jorden,
    skyller over mig som brændingen.
Du har fået mine venner til at forlade mig,
    du har gjort det, så de væmmes ved mig,
        jeg er fanget og ser ingen udvej.
10 Mine øjne er matte af fortvivlelse.
    Åh, Herre, dagen lang råber jeg til dig,
        rækker hænderne op imod dig i bøn.
11 Mon du gør underværker for de døde?
    Står de op af graven for at lovprise dig?
12 Vil de døde fortælle om din nåde?
    Forkynder man din trofasthed i dødsrigets mørke?
13 Vil afgrunden opleve dine undere?
    Huskes din godhed i glemslens land?
14 Herre, jeg råber til dig om hjælp,
    hver morgen stiger mine bønner op til dig.
15 Hvorfor har du forkastet mig, Herre?
    Hvorfor skjuler du dit ansigt for mig?
16 Jeg er hjælpeløs og døden nær,
    fra min ungdom plaget af rædsel.
17 Din straf overvælder mig,
    så jeg er ved at gå til af angst.
18 Som en malstrøm hvirvler den omkring mig,
    slår sammen over mit hoved.
19 Mine venner og min familie har forladt mig,
    mine bekendte har efterladt mig i mørket.

Footnotes

  1. 88,1 Betydningen af ordet mahalat kendes ikke.

A Prayer for Help in Despondency

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A [a]Contemplation of (A)Heman the Ezrahite.

88 O Lord, (B)God of my salvation,
I have cried out day and night before You.
Let my prayer come before You;
[b]Incline Your ear to my cry.

For my soul is full of troubles,
And my life (C)draws near to the grave.
I am counted with those who (D)go[c] down to the pit;
(E)I am like a man who has no strength,
[d]Adrift among the dead,
Like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom You remember no more,
And who are cut off from Your hand.

You have laid me in the lowest pit,
In darkness, in the depths.
Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
And You have afflicted me with all (F)Your waves. Selah
(G)You have [e]put away my acquaintances far from me;
You have made me an abomination to them;
(H)I am shut up, and I cannot get out;
My eye wastes away because of affliction.

(I)Lord, I have called daily upon You;
I have stretched out my hands to You.
10 Will You work wonders for the dead?
Shall [f]the dead arise and praise You? Selah
11 Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave?
Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction?
12 Shall Your wonders be known in the dark?
And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But to You I have cried out, O Lord,
And in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14 Lord, why do You cast off my soul?
Why do You hide Your face from me?
15 I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth;
I suffer Your terrors;
I am distraught.
16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me;
Your terrors have [g]cut me off.
17 They came around me all day long like water;
They engulfed me altogether.
18 (J)Loved one and friend You have put far from me,
And my acquaintances into darkness.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 88:1 Heb. Maschil
  2. Psalm 88:2 Listen to
  3. Psalm 88:4 Die
  4. Psalm 88:5 Lit. Free
  5. Psalm 88:8 taken away my friends
  6. Psalm 88:10 shades, ghosts
  7. Psalm 88:16 destroyed me