Psalm 88

	88:0  A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the 		    choir director: according to Mahalath Leannoth. 
		    A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

	88:1  LORD, God of my salvation,
		    I cry out day and at night before you.

	88:2  Let my prayer come before you;
		       incline your ear to my cry!

	88:3  For my soul [nephesh] is full of troubles,
		    and my life draws near to Sheol.
	
	88:4  I am counted among those who go down to the pit; 
		    I have become like a man without strength,

	88:5  set loose among the dead,
		    like the slain that lie in the grave,
		    whom you remember no more, 
	         for they are cut off from your hand.

	88:6  You have put me in the lowest pit, 
		    in dark places, in the depths.

	88:7  Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
		     and you overwhelm me with all your waves. 
											Selah

	88:8  You have caused those who know me to keep their 			       distance from me;
		    you have made me an abomination to them.
			  I am shut up and cannot go out.

	88:9  My eyes grow weak because of oppression. 
		    I call out to you, LORD, all day long; 
		    I spread out my hands to you.

	88:10 Do you work wonders for the dead?
		     Do the departed rise up to praise you? 
													  Selah

	88:11 Is your lovingkindness declared in the grave,
		     or your faithfulness in Abaddon?

	88:12 Are your wonders known in the darkness,
		     or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

	88:13 But I, LORD, cry to you;
		         in the morning my prayer comes before you.
	
	88:14 	LORD, why do you reject my soul? 
			Why do you hide your face from me?

	88:15 	I am oppressed and have been on the verge of death 			  since my youth.
		      I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.

	88:16  Your burning anger passes over me; 
		      your terrors destroy me.

	88:17  They surround me like a flood all day long;
		      they close in on me altogether.

	88:18 You have caused my beloved and friend to keep their 
			  distance; 
			those who know me leave me alone in the darkness.