rd

Psalms 88

1 A grievous complaint of the faithful, sore afflicted by sickness, persecutions and adversity: 7 Being as it were left of God without anie consolation 13 Yet he calleth on God by faith and striveth against desperation. 18 Complaining him self to be forsaken of all earthlie help.
¶ A song or Psalme of *Hemán the Ezrahite to give instruction, to the sons of Kórah for him that excelleth upon Maláth aLeannoth.
1.O Lord God of my salvation, I cry day and night bbefore thee.
2.Let my prayer enter into thy presence: incline thine ear unto my cry.
3.For my soul is filled with evils, and my life draweth near to the grave.
4.I am counted among them that go down unto the pit, and am as a man without strength:
5.cFree among the dead, like the slain lying in the grave, whom thou remembrest no more, and they are cut off from thine dhand.
6.Thou hast laied me in the lowest pit, in darkness, and in the deep.
7.Thine indignation lieth upon me, and thou hast vexed me with all thy ewaves. Sélah.
8.Thou hast put away mine facquaintance far from me, & made me to be abhorred of them: gI am shut up, and can not get forth.
9.hMine eye is sorrowful through mine affliction: Lord, I call daily upon thee: I stretch out mine hands unto thee.
10.Wilt thou shewe ia miracle to the dead? or shal the dead rise and praise thee? Sélah.
11.Shall thy loving kindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
12.Shal thy wonderous works be knowen in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land kof oblivion?
13.But unto thee have I cryed, ô Lord, and early shal my praier come before thee.
14.Lord, why doest thou reject my soul, and hidest thy face from me?
15.I am afflicted and at the point of death: lfrom my youth I suffer thy terrors, douting of my life.
16.Thine indignations go over me, and thy fear hath cut me off.
17.They came round about me daiely like water, & compassed me together.
18.My lovers and friends hast thou put away from me, and mine acquaintance ^hid them selves.

Notes

1-b.
Though many cry in their sorrows, yet they cry not earnestly to God for remedy as he did: whom he confessed to be the author of his salvation
5-c.
For he that is dead, is free from all cares and business of this life: and thus he says because he was unprofitable for all matters concerning man’s life, and as it were cut off from this world.
5-d.
That is, from your providence and care, which is meant according to the judgement of the flesh.
7-e.
The storms of your wrath have overwhelmed me.
8-f.
He attributes the loss and displeasure of his friends to God’s providence, whereby he partly punishes and partly tries his.
8-g.
I see none end of my sorrows.
9-h.
My eyes and face declare my sorrows.
10-i.
He shows that the time is more convenient for God to help when men call unto him in their dangers then to tarry till they be dead and then raise them up again.
12-k.
That is, in the grave, where only the body lies without all sense and remembrance.
15-l.
I am ever in great dangers and sorrows, as though my life should utterly be cut off every moment. 18 Êbr., were in darkness.