Psalms 88:11-18
Psalms 88:9-18 The Message (MSG)
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? 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.
Psalms 88:11-18 King James Version (KJV)
Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or thy faithfulness in destruction? Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; And in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. LORD, why castest thou off my soul? Why hidest thou thy face from me? I am afflicted and ready to die From my youth up: While I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; Thy terrors have cut me off. They came round about me daily like water; They compassed me about together. Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, And mine acquaintance into darkness.
Psalms 88:11-18 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O LORD, have cried out to You for help, And in the morning my prayer comes before You. O LORD, why do You reject my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me? I was afflicted and about to die from my youth on; I suffer Your terrors; I am overcome. Your burning anger has passed over me; Your terrors have destroyed me. They have surrounded me like water all day long; They have encompassed me altogether. You have removed lover and friend far from me; My acquaintances are in darkness.
Psalms 88:11-18 New Century Version (NCV)
Will your love be told in the grave? Will your loyalty be told in the place of death? Will your miracles be known in the dark grave? Will your goodness be known in the land of forgetfulness? But, LORD, I have called out to you for help; every morning I pray to you. LORD, why do you reject me? Why do you hide from me? I have been weak and dying since I was young. I suffer from your terrors, and I am helpless. You have been angry with me, and your terrors have destroyed me. They surround me daily like a flood; they are all around me. You have taken away my loved ones and friends. Darkness is my only friend.
Psalms 88:11-18 American Standard Version (ASV)
Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or thy faithfulness in Destruction? Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But unto thee, O Jehovah, have I cried; And in the morning shall my prayer come before thee. Jehovah, why castest thou off my soul? Why hidest thou thy face from me? I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: While I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; Thy terrors have cut me off. They came round about me like water all the day long; They compassed me about together. Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, And mine acquaintance into darkness.
Psalms 88:11-18 New International Version (NIV)
Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion? But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Why, LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me? From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair. Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me. You have taken from me friend and neighbor— darkness is my closest friend.
Psalms 88:11-18 New King James Version (NKJV)
Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Shall Your wonders be known in the dark? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But to You I have cried out, O LORD, And in the morning my prayer comes before You. LORD, why do You cast off my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me? I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth; I suffer Your terrors; I am distraught. Your fierce wrath has gone over me; Your terrors have cut me off. They came around me all day long like water; They engulfed me altogether. Loved one and friend You have put far from me, And my acquaintances into darkness.
Psalms 88:11-18 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave Or Your faithfulness in Abaddon (the underworld)? Will Your wonders be known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness [where the dead forget and are forgotten]? ¶But I have cried out to You, O LORD, for help; And in the morning my prayer will come to You. O LORD, why do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me? [Matt 27:46] I was afflicted and close to death from my youth on; I suffer Your terrors; I am overcome. Your fierce wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me. They have surrounded me like flood waters all day long; They have completely encompassed me. Lover and friend You have placed far from me; My familiar friends are in darkness.
Psalms 88:11-18 New Living Translation (NLT)
Can those in the grave declare your unfailing love? Can they proclaim your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Can the darkness speak of your wonderful deeds? Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about your righteousness? O LORD, I cry out to you. I will keep on pleading day by day. O LORD, why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me? I have been sick and close to death since my youth. I stand helpless and desperate before your terrors. Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me. Your terrors have paralyzed me. They swirl around me like floodwaters all day long. They have engulfed me completely. You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.
Psalms 88:11-18 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Who can give thanks for your love in the graveyard? Who preaches your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Does death’s darkness declare your miracles? How can anyone who’s in the grave, where all is forgotten, remember how you keep your promises? Lord, you know my prayer before I even whisper it. At each and every sunrise you will continue to hear my cry until you answer. O Lord, why have you thrown my life away? Will you keep turning the other way every time I call out to you? I’ve had to live in poverty and trouble all my life. Now I’m humiliated, broken, and helpless before your terrors and I can’t take it anymore. I’m overwhelmed by your burning anger. I’ve taken the worst you could give me, and I’m speechless before you. I’m drowning beneath the waves of this sorrow, cut off with no one to help. All my loved ones and friends keep far away from me, leaving me all alone with only darkness as my friend.
Psalms 88:11-18 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O LORD, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me? Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless. Your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together. You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.