Psalms 88
88
Save Me from This Sorrow # 88 This psalm has traditionally been used by Christians for reading on Good Friday. Many insights can be found here of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
To the Pure and Shining One
A song, a psalm # 88 Psalm 88 is both a song and a psalm. The Hebrew for “song” can also mean “wall.” There are times that our purest music will come when we feel like we are up against a “wall.” by the prophetic singers of Korah’s clan
To the tune of “Pierced,” for instruction by Heman the Ezrahite # 88 Heman the Ezrahite was considered comparable to Solomon in his wisdom (1 Kings 4:31). Jewish literature states that he was also a gifted musician and vocalist. But it also teaches that Heman was a leper, an outcast from society who lived in poverty, was shunned by all, and could not sing in the temple because of his disease. Read Ps. 88 with this background in mind. To the tune of “Pierced” can also be translated “He has been humbled more than any man.” The Hebrew word for “instruction” (maschil) comes from a word that means “to prosper” or “to understand.”
1Yahweh is the God who continually saves me.
I weep before you night and day.
2Please bend down and listen to my sobbing,
for my life is riddled with troubles
and death is just around the corner!
3Everyone sees my life ebbing out.
They consider me a hopeless case and see me as a dead man.
4They’ve all left me here to die, helpless,
like one who is doomed for death.
5They’re convinced you’ve forsaken me,
certain that you’ve forgotten me completely—
abandoned, pierced, with nothing to look forward to but death.
6They have discarded me # 88:6 As translated from the Septuagint. The Hebrew reads “You have discarded me.” and thrown me down
into the deepest darkness as into a bottomless pit.
7I feel your wrath, and it’s a heavy weight upon me,
drowning me beneath a sea of sorrow.
Pause in his presence
8Why did you turn all my friends against me?
You’ve made me like a cursed man in their eyes.
No one wants to be with me now.
You’ve caught me in a trap with no way out.
9Every day I beg for your help. Can’t you see my tears?
My eyes are swollen with weeping.
My arms are wide, longing for mercy, # 88:9 As translated from the Septuagint. The Greek reads “My hands are stretched out to you.”
but you’re nowhere to be found.
10How can those who are cut off from your care
even know that you are there?
Do departed spirits # 88:10 Or “Rephaites.” The Rephaites were giants that inhabited the region of Bashan east of the Jordan. See Deut. 2:11; 3:11; Josh. 12:4–5. rise up to praise you?
Pause in his presence
11Who can give thanks for your love in the graveyard?
Who preaches your faithfulness in the place of destruction?
12Does death’s darkness declare your miracles?
How can anyone who’s in the grave, where all is forgotten,
remember how you keep your promises?
13Lord, you know my prayer before I even whisper it. # 88:13 As translated from the Septuagint.
At each and every sunrise you will
continue to hear my cry until you answer.
14O Lord, why have you thrown my life away?
Will you keep turning the other way every time I call out to you?
15I’ve had to live in poverty and trouble all my life. # 88:15 As translated from the Septuagint. The Greek reads “close to death all my life.”
Now I’m humiliated, broken, and helpless before your terrors
and I can’t take it anymore.
16I’m overwhelmed by your burning anger.
I’ve taken the worst you could give me,
and I’m speechless before you.
17I’m drowning beneath the waves of this sorrow,
cut off with no one to help.
18All my loved ones and friends keep far away from me,
leaving me all alone with only darkness as my friend.
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Psalms 88: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 88
88
A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korah. For the music director. To the tune “Mahalath Leannoth.” A maskil by Heman the Ezrahite
1Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you day and night.
2Please listen to my prayer; hear my words as I plead with you.
3My life is full of troubles, and my death is approaching.#88:3. Literally, “my life reaches out to Sheol.”
4I'm counted among the dying; a man with no strength.
5I am abandoned among the dead, lying like a corpse in the grave, forgotten and beyond your care.
6You have placed me in a deep pit, in the depths of darkness.
7Your hostility crushes me; you are drowning me under your crashing waves. Selah.
8You have made my friends avoid me by making me look repulsive to them. I'm trapped, I can't go out.#88:8. Perhaps because he is regarded as unclean.
9I've cried my eyes out begging you every day for your help, Lord, holding out my hands to you.
10Do you do miracles among the dead? Do the dead stand up to praise you? Selah.
11Your faithful love—is it mentioned in the grave? Your trustworthiness—is it discussed in the place of destruction?#88:11. “Place of destruction”: literally, “Abaddon.”
12Are the wonderful things you do known in the darkness? Is your goodness known in the land of forgetfulness?
13But I cry out to you for help; every morning I pray to you.
14Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn away from me?
15I have been sick since I was young, often at death's door. I have had to bear the terrible things you've done to me. I'm in despair!
16Your anger has overcome me; the terrible things you do have destroyed me.
17They surround me all the time like floodwaters, swallowing me up.
18You have made my family and friends avoid me. Darkness is my only friend.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com