88 For the musical director: a song by Korah’s descendants. To be sung to the tune of ‘Mahalat-Le’annot’ a song[fn] by Heyman, one of Ezra’s descendants.

88 Yahweh God who rescues me,

I call out day and night to you for help.

2 Let my prayer be noticed by you.

≈Pay attention to my cry

3 because I’m filled with troubles,

≈and my life is approaching the grave.

4 People treat me like those who are going down into the pit.

≈I’m a man with no strength left.

5 I’m abandoned among the dead.

≈I’m like the dead who lie in the grave,

about whom you don’t care any more

because they’re cut off from your power.

6 You place me in the lowest part of the pit—

≈in the dark and deep places.

7 Your rage lies heavy on me,

≈and all your waves crash over me. (Instrumental break.)

8 Because of you, my acquaintances avoid me.

You have made me a shocking sight to them.

I am hemmed in and I cannot escape.

9 My eyes grow weary from trouble.

All day long I call out to you for help, Yahweh—

I spread out my hands to you.

10 Will you do wonders for the dead?

≈Will those who’ve died rise and praise you? (Instrumental break.)

11 Will your loyal commitment be proclaimed in the grave—

≈your loyalty in the place of the dead?

12 Will your wonderful activities be known in the darkness,

≈or your righteousness in the place of forgetfulness?

13 But I cry to you for help, Yahweh—

in the morning my prayer goes before you.

14 Yahweh, why do you reject me?

≈Why do you hide yourself from me?

15 Since my youth, I’ve always been afflicted and close to death.

≈I have suffered from your terrors—I’m in despair.

16 Your severe anger has swept over me,

≈and your terrifying deeds have annihilated me.

17 They surround me like water all the day long.

≈They’ve all encircled me.

18 You’ve taken all my friends and acquaintances away from me.

Now my only acquaintance is the darkness.