The last deep blue hour of night over dark hills, seen from the empty edge of a flat roof, one faint star above and no dawn yet.

Lament · Heman

Psalm 88

For the days nothing helps. This prayer doesn’t turn around at the end. It is in the Bible anyway.

18 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

Tap any post to go deeper

Where we are

1–41Book IDavid's prayers: 'The LORD is my shepherd'
42–72Book II'As the deer pants'; the throne under pressure
73–89Book IIIAsaph and Korah: the kingdom fallsPsalm 88
90–106Book IVBack to Moses: the LORD reigns
107–150Book VSongs of ascents, and the last Hallelujah

I Cry Out before You

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

O LORD, the God of my salvation,

day and night I cry out before You.

May my prayer come before You;

incline Your ear to my cry.

For my soul is full of troubles,

and my life draws near to Sheol.

I am counted among those descending to the Pit.

I am like a man without strength.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

I am forsaken among the dead,

like the slain who lie in the grave,

whom You remember no more,

who are cut off from Your care.

A vast gray salt flat under flat gray cloud, no track and no plant, the horizon barely there.

Do You work wonders for the dead?

Do departed spirits rise up to praise You?

Selah

Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave,

Your faithfulness in Abaddon?

Will Your wonders be known in the darkness,

or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

0:17

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

For someone who can’t pray

Pray for someone who can’t pray this week. If that’s you, these words will do.

But to You, O LORD, I cry for help;

in the morning my prayer comes before You.

Why, O LORD, do You reject me?

Why do You hide Your face from me?

But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You.

Psalm 88:13

From my youth I was afflicted and near death.

I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair.

Your wrath has swept over me;

Your terrors have destroyed me.

All day long they engulf me like water;

they enclose me on every side.

You have removed my beloved and my friend;

darkness is my closest companion.

You’ve experienced

Psalm 88

0 of 150 psalms read

A verse to carry with you

But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You.

Psalm 88:13

or swipe left