Psalm 88 - The Message (MSG)

88 1-9 God, you’re my last chance of the day.
I spend the night on my knees before you.
Put me on your salvation agenda;
take notes on the trouble I’m in.
I’ve had my fill of trouble;
I’m camped on the edge of hell.
I’m written off as a lost cause,
one more statistic, a hopeless case.
Abandoned as already dead,
one more body in a stack of corpses,
And not so much as a gravestone—
I’m a black hole in oblivion.
You’ve dropped me into a bottomless pit,
sunk me in a pitch-black abyss.
I’m battered senseless by your rage,
relentlessly pounded by your waves of anger.
You turned my friends against me,
made me horrible to them.
I’m caught in a maze and can’t find my way out,
blinded by tears of pain and frustration.

9-12 I call to you, God; all day I call.
I wring my hands, I plead for help.
Are the dead a live audience for your miracles?
Do ghosts ever join the choirs that praise you?
Does your love make any difference in a graveyard?
Is your faithful presence noticed in the corridors of hell?
Are your marvelous wonders ever seen in the dark,
your righteous ways noticed in the Land of No Memory?

13-18 I’m standing my ground, God, shouting for help,
at my prayers every morning, on my knees each daybreak.
Why, God, do you turn a deaf ear?
Why do you make yourself scarce?
For as long as I remember I’ve been hurting;
I’ve taken the worst you can hand out, and I’ve had it.
Your wildfire anger has blazed through my life;
I’m bleeding, black-and-blue.
You’ve attacked me fiercely from every side,
raining down blows till I’m nearly dead.
You made lover and neighbor alike dump me;
the only friend I have left is Darkness.

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Psalm 88 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

88 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, 2 My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry, 3 For my soul hath ...
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Psalm 88 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

88 The song of the psalm, to the sons of Korah, to victory on Mahalath, for to answer the learning of Heman, (the) Ezrahite. Lord God of mine health; I cried in day and night before thee. (The song of the psalm, for the sons of Korah, to victory on Mahalath, to answer the teaching of Heman, the Ezra...
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Psalm 88 - World English Bible (WEB)

A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Suffering of Affliction.” A contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite.88 Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.2 Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.3 For my soul...
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Psalm 88 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 88For the worship leader. A song of the sons of Korah accompanied by dance.[a] A contemplative song[b] of Heman the Ezrahite.This individual lament was composed by someone afflicted with a grave illness, feeling lonely and abandoned by God. This song is reminiscent of Job’s sufferings.1 O Eter...
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Psalm 88 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Cry of DesperationPsalm 881 A song, a psalm of the sons of Korah, for the music director, for singing Mahalath, a contemplative song[a] of Heman the Ezrahite.2 Adonai, God of my salvation,day and night I cried out before You.3 Let my prayer come before You.Turn Your ear to my cry.4 For my soul is fu...
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Psalm 88 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Prayer for Help in DespondencyA Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.88 O Lord, my God, I call for help[a] by day; I cry out in the night before thee.2 Let my prayer come before thee, incline thy ear to my cry! 3 For m...
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Psalm 88 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Prayer for Help in DespondencyA Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.88 O Lord, my God, I call for help[a] by day; I cry out in the night before thee.2 Let my prayer come before thee, incline thy ear to my cry! 3 For m...
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Psalm 88 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 88Prayer for Help in DespondencyA Song. A Psalm of the Korahites. To the leader: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.1 O Lord, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence,2 let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry. 3 For my soul i...
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Psalm 88 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 88Prayer for Help in DespondencyA Song. A Psalm of the Korahites. To the leader: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.1 O Lord, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence,2 let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry. 3 For my soul i...
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Psalm 88 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 88Prayer for Help in DespondencyA Song. A Psalm of the Korahites. To the leader: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.1 O Lord, God of my salvation, at night, when I cry out before you,(A)2 let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry.(B)3 For my soul is ...
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Psalm 88 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 88For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah. A song to be sung to the tune “The Suffering of Affliction.” A psalm[a] of Heman the Ezrahite.1 O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night.2 Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry.3 For my life is fu...
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Psalm 88 - New Life Version (NLV)

A Prayer to Be Saved from Death88 O Lord, the God Who saves me, I have cried out before You day and night. 2 Let my prayer come to You. Listen to my cry. 3 For my soul is filled with troubles. And my life comes near the grave. 4 I am added among those who go down into the deep hole. I am like a m...
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Psalm 88 - New King James Version (NKJV)

A Prayer for Help in DespondencyA Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A [a]Contemplation of (A)Heman the Ezrahite.88 O Lord, (B)God of my salvation,I have cried out day and night before You.2 Let my prayer come before You;[b]Incline Your ear to my c...
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Psalm 88 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 88[a]A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth.[b] A maskil[c] of Heman the Ezrahite.1 Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. 3 I am overwhelmed with trou...
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Psalm 88 - New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 88[a]A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth.[b] A maskil[c] of Heman the Ezrahite.1 Lord, you are the God who saves me;(A) day and night I cry out(B) to you.2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. 3 I am overwhelmed wit...
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Psalm 88 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 88For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth. A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.1 Lord, you are the God who saves me. Day and night I cry out to you.2 Please hear my prayer. Pay attention to my cry for help. 3 I have so many troubles I’m about ...
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Psalm 88 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 88[a]A song, a psalm written by the Korahites, for the music director, according to the machalath-leannoth style;[b] a well-written song[c] by Heman the Ezrahite.88 O Lord God who delivers me,[d]by day I cry outand at night I pray before you.[e]2 Listen to my prayer.[f]Pay attention[g] to my c...
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