Psalm 88 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Psalm 88 is a psalm of supplication or lament. Because the psalmist is feeling such despair, he does not make a statement of trust or a vow of praise, and he does not even make a petition. (The psalmist observes instead in verses 10–12 that if Yahweh does not heal him, he will not be able to praise him.) So only two of the basic elements of a psalm of supplication are present. See the discussion of the types of psalms in the introduction to the book of Psalms. 1. Cry for help (1–2) 2. Description of troubles (3–8) 3. Cry for help (9–14) 4. Description of troubles (15–18)

Translation Issues in This Psalm

Who wrote this psalm?

The superscription to Psalm 88 says that it is both a “psalm of the sons of Korah” and a “maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.” The explanation for this is probably that the first part of the superscription belongs at the end of Psalm 87 (whose superscription attributes it to “the sons of Korah”). See the discussion of this in the introduction to the book of Psalms. As that discussion indicates, there is significant movement among biblical scholars toward seeing the musical instructions at the start of many psalm inscriptions as subscriptions to the previous psalms. However, published versions of the Bible do not yet tend to present them that way. Unless there is a Bible translation in your region that does, we recommend that you follow the current approach and retain both attributions in this superscription. The UST models one way to do that.

Note 1 topic: translate-transliterate

מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל

(maskil)

The superscription to this psalm identifies it as a maskil. Since the meaning of this word is not certain, you may wish to represent it in its Hebrew form and spell it the way it sounds in your language. See the discussion of that term in the Introduction to Psalms.

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

לַ⁠מְנַצֵּ֣חַ

(la⁠mənaʦʦēaḩ)

The word translated as chief musician likely refers to the person in charge of music for worship. Some languages may have a term for a music leader. Alternate translation: [For the music director] or [For the leader of worship music]

Note 3 topic: translate-names

עַל־מָחֲלַ֣ת לְ⁠עַנּ֑וֹת

(ˊal-māḩₐlat lə⁠ˊannōt)

The phrase that the ULT translates as Weakness of Afflicting could be the name of the tune of this psalm. It might also be a musical instruction See how you translated the term Weakness in the superscription to Psalm 53. (The addition of the term Afflicting here seems to refer to what the psalmist says in verse 9, “My eye mourns from affliction.”) Alternate translation: [perform this psalm about affliction in a minor key] or [perform this psalm about affliction in a somber tone]