88:1  A Song, a Psalm, by sons of Korah, to the Overseer, `Concerning the Sickness of Afflictions.' -- An instruction, by Heman the Ezrahite. O Jehovah, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly before Thee,

88:2  My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,

88:3  For my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come to Sheol.

88:4  I have been reckoned with those going down `to' the pit, I have been as a man without strength.

88:5  Among the dead -- free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom Thou hast not remembered any more, Yea, they by Thy hand have been cut off.

88:6  Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.

88:7  Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And `with' all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. Selah.

88:8  Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up -- I go not forth.

88:9  Mine eye hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands.

88:10  To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? Selah.

88:11  Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?

88:12  Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

88:13  And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.

88:14  Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me.

88:15  I `am' afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors -- I pine away.

88:16  Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,

88:17  They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,

88:18  Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance `is' the place of darkness!