Psalm 88

A Cry of Desperation

A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.(A)

Lord, God of my salvation,
I cry out before you day and night.(B)
May my prayer reach your presence;
listen to my cry.(C)

For I have had enough troubles,
and my life is near Sheol.(D)
I am counted among those going down to the Pit.(E)
I am like a man without strength,(F)
abandoned[a] among the dead.
I am like the slain lying in the grave,(G)
whom you no longer remember,
and who are cut off from your care.[b](H)

You have put me in the lowest part of the Pit,
in the darkest places, in the depths.(I)
Your wrath weighs heavily on me;(J)
you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.(K)Selah
You have distanced my friends from me;
you have made me repulsive to them.(L)
I am shut in and cannot go out.
My eyes are worn out from crying.(M)
Lord, I cry out to you all day long;(N)
I spread out my hands to you.(O)

10 Do you work wonders for the dead?
Do departed spirits rise up to praise you?(P)Selah
11 Will your faithful love be declared in the grave,
your faithfulness in Abaddon?(Q)
12 Will your wonders be known in the darkness
or your righteousness in the land of oblivion?(R)

13 But I call to you for help, Lord;
in the morning my prayer meets you.(S)
14 Lord, why do you reject me?(T)
Why do you hide your face from me?(U)
15 From my youth,
I have been suffering and near death.
I suffer your horrors; I am desperate.(V)
16 Your wrath sweeps over me;
your terrors destroy me.(W)
17 They surround me like water all day long;
they close in on me from every side.(X)
18 You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me;
darkness is my only friend.[c](Y)

Footnotes

  1. 88:5 Or set free
  2. 88:5 Or hand
  3. 88:18 Or from me, my friends. Oh darkness!

21 The one who despises his neighbor sins,(A)
but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.(B)

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Final Warnings and Exhortations

13 This is the third time I am coming to you.(A) Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.[a](B) I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning(C) while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient, since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me.(D) He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you. For he was crucified(E) in weakness, but he lives(F) by the power of God. For we also are weak in him,(G) but in dealing with you we will live(H) with him by God’s power.

Test(I) yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.[b] And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test. But we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right,(J) even though we may appear to fail. For we can’t do anything against the truth,(K) but only for the truth. We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong.(L) We also pray that you become fully mature.[c] 10 This is why I am writing these things while absent, so that when I am there I may not have to deal harshly with you, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up(M) and not for tearing down.(N)

11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice.[d] Become mature, be encouraged,[e] be of the same mind,(O) be at peace,(P) and the God of love(Q) and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.(R) All the saints send you greetings.

13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love(S) of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.[f](T)

Footnotes

  1. 13:1 Dt 17:6; 19:15
  2. 13:5 Or you are disqualified, or you are counterfeit
  3. 13:9 Or become complete, or be restored
  4. 13:11 Or farewell
  5. 13:11 Or listen to my appeal
  6. 13:12–13 Some translations divide these two vv. into three vv. so that v. 13 begins with All the saints... and v. 14 begins with The grace of...

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