You have taken from me my closest friends
    and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined and cannot escape;
    my eyes are dim with grief.

I call to you, Lord, every day;
    I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you show your wonders to the dead?
    Do their spirits rise up and praise you?
11 Is your love declared in the grave,
    your faithfulness in Destruction?[a]
12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,
    or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

13 But I cry to you for help, Lord;
    in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Why, Lord, do you reject me
    and hide your face from me?

15 From my youth I have suffered and been close to death;
    I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
16 Your wrath has swept over me;
    your terrors have destroyed me.
17 All day long they surround me like a flood;
    they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken from me friend and neighbour –
    darkness is my closest friend.

Psalm 89[b]

A maskil[c] of Ethan the Ezrahite.

I will sing of the Lord’s great love for ever;
    with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
    through all generations.
I will declare that your love stands firm for ever,
    that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
You said, ‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
    I have sworn to David my servant,
“I will establish your line for ever
    and make your throne firm through all generations.”’[d]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 88:11 Hebrew Abaddon
  2. Psalm 89:1 In Hebrew texts 89:1-52 is numbered 89:2-53.
  3. Psalm 89:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  4. Psalm 89:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 37, 45 and 48.