Chapter 88

O Lord my God I call for help by day

I cry out in the night before thee

Let my prayer come before thee

Incline thy ear to my cry

For my soul is full of troubles

And my life draws near to sheol

I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit

I am a man who has no strength

Like one forsaken among the dead

Like the slain that lie in the grave

Like those whom dost remember no more

For they are cut off from thy hand

Thou hast put me in the depths of the pit

In the regions dark and deep

Thy wrath lies heavy upon me

And thou dost overwhelm me with all thy waves

Thou hast caused my companions to shun me

Thou hast made me a thing of horror to them

I am shut in so that I cannot escape

My eye grows dim through sorrow

Every day I call upon thee O Lord

I spread out my hands to thee

Dost thou work wonders for the dead

Do the shades rise up to praise thee

Is thy steadfast love declared in the grave

Or thy faithfulness in abaddon

Are thy wonders known in the darkness

Or thy saving help in the land of forgetfulness

But I O Lord cry to thee

In the morning my prayer comes before thee

O Lord why dost thou cast me off

Why dost thou hide thy face from me

Afflicted and close to death from my youth up

I suffer thy terrors I am helpless

Thy wrath has swept over me

Thy dread assaults destroy me

They surround me like a flood all day long

They close in upon me forever

Thou hast caused lover and friend to shun me

My companions are in darkness