Previous Book (JOB) PSA 87 OET Book index, Intro, and Key PSA 89 Next Book (PRO) FAQs Glossary
Note: This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public. Some things (like capitalisation of ‘him’ referring to Jesus or ‘father’ referring to God) in the RV haven’t been decided yet so we’re still testing both ways.
Note: The Readers’ Version on the left is a translation into contemporary English aimed at the person on the street who hasn’t necessarily been brought up with exposure to Biblical jargon and/or 500-year old English. It’s designed to be used alongside the Literal Version on the right which gives the English reader a window into what’s actually written in the original languages. (See the introduction for more details—we recommend that you read the introduction first if you’re wanting to fully understand the Literal Version.) By comparing the left and right columns, you should be able to easily get the message of the text, while at the same time keeping an eye on what it was actually translated from.
Note that greyed words in the RV are words that the translators consider were most probably in the mind of the writer, but as none of us can double-check with the original speakers or writers, the reader is free to disagree. They are clearly marked because we’ve tried to be as honest and transparent as possible.
The lighter coloured words in the LV are words which aren’t needed in the grammar of the original languages but are required or implied in English. You can read the Key to learn more about them. The underlines joining words in the LV show when one original language word needs to be translated into two or more English words. (Just hide them with the button if you don’t need that information and find it distracting.) Also, the majority of sentences in the LV don’t have the words put into a sensible English order yet. (This should be completed by the end of 2023.)
See also the FAQs and the Glossary.
88:1 A depressed cry for help
Prayer for Help in Despondency; A Cry for Help
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.
For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah, to be sung to the tune “The Suffering of Affliction.” A psalm of Heman the Ezrahite. A song.; A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.; A Song. A Psalm of the Korahites. To the leader: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.; A song: a psalm: for the Korahites: for the leader: set to ‘Mahalath le-annoth’: a maskil: for Heman the Ezrahite
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—
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.
↑ 88 A_song a_song of_sons_of of_Qoraḩ for_the_director on machalath- to/for_leannoth a_poem of_Hēymān the_ʼEzrāḩī.
2 \f + \fr 88:2 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
1\f* Oh_YHWH the_god_of salvation_of_my day I_have_cried_out in/on/at/with_night before_you.
3 \f + \fr 88:3 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
2\f* may_it_come to_your_face prayer_of_my incline ear_of_your to_cry_of_my.
4 \f + \fr 88:4 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
3\f* if/because it_is_surfeited in/on/at/with_troubles soul_of_my and_life_of_my to_shəʼōl they_have_approached.
5 \f + \fr 88:5 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
4\f* I_am_reckoned with those_who_go_down_of the_pit I_am like_man who_there_is_not strength.
6 \f + \fr 88:6 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
5\f* in/on/at/with_dead set_free like those_slain who_lie_of the_grave whom not remember_them again and_they from_hand_of_your they_are_cut_off.
7 \f + \fr 88:7 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
6\f* put_me in/on/at/with_pit_of lowest_parts in/on/at/with_dark_places in/on/at/with_depths.
8 \f + \fr 88:8 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
7\f* upon_me severe_anger_of_your it_has_lain and_all waves_of_your you_have_afflicted_me Şelāh.
9 \f + \fr 88:9 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
8\f* you_have_removed_far_away acquaintances_of_my from_me made_me abominations to_them I_am_shut_up and_not I_will_go_out.
10 \f + \fr 88:10 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
9\f* eye_of_my it_has_become_faint from affliction call_on_you Oh_YHWH in_all day I_have_spread_out to_you hands_of_my.
11 \f + \fr 88:11 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
10\f* for_the_dead will_you_do wonders or the_shades will_they_arise praise_you Şelāh.
12 \f + \fr 88:12 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
11\f* the_declared in/on/at/with_grave steadfast_love_of_your faithfulness_of_your in/on/at/with_abaddon.
13 \f + \fr 88:13 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
12\f* known in/on/at/with_darkness wonders_of_your and_righteousness_of_your in_land forgetting.
14 \f + \fr 88:14 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
13\f* and_I to_you Oh_YHWH I_cry_for_help and_in/on/at/with_morning prayer_of_my comes_before_you.
15 \f + \fr 88:15 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
14\f* to/for_why Oh_YHWH do_you_reject soul_of_my do_you_hide face_of_your from_me.
16 \f + \fr 88:16 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
15\f* have_been_afflicted I and_close_to_death from_youth I_have_borne terrors_of_your I_am_perplexed.
17 \f + \fr 88:17 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
16\f* over_me severe_anger_of_your they_have_passed terrors_of_your destroyed_me.
18 \f + \fr 88:18 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
17\f* surround_me like_the_water all_of the_day they_have_surrounded on_me altogether.
19 \f + \fr 88:19 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.
88.
18\f* you_have_removed_far_away from_me one_who_loves and_friend acquaintances_of_my is_a_dark_place.
Previous Book (JOB) PSA 87 OET Book index, Intro, and Key PSA 89 Next Book (PRO) FAQs Glossary