Bibliofreakblog

FreeVerse: Psalm 88: Lament and Prayer in Affliction

You know how in Monty Python & the Holy Grail God is all don’t avert your eyes, I hate that, just like those psalms, they’re so depressing!  Scroll down if you want a refresher.

Anyways, most psalms have some sort of redemptive value, some glimmer of hope.  

Except for one.

Psalm 88 is my favorite psalm because of just how ridiculously depressing it is (though psalms 6, 10, 13, 43, 77, and 102 are pretty bad, too, but they all seem to have some spark of optimism or renewal of faith in there somewhere).  In fact, it just might be one of the most depressing poems in the world.  When I was in high school, I wrote a paper comparing this to a Nine Inch Nails song and a poem by Anne Rice’s husband (what can I say?  I was 16).

This comes from my New American Bible, which is a Catholic Bible, and is completely falling apart.  Usually for academic things I use my shiny red New Oxford Bible, but it’s this one that I have the poem highlighted in.  Also, the italics are mine, as I just think the first line should be in italics.

Without further ado…

“Psalm 88: Lament and Prayer in Affliction” by David or maybe Heman the Ezraite, or maybe some other Korahthite, or maybe someone else entirely

1. A song; a psalm of the sons of Korah.  For 
the leader; according Mahalath.  For singing;
a maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. 

I.
2. O Lord, my God, by day I cry out;
          at night I clamor in your presence.
3. Let my prayer come before you;
          incline your ear to my call for help;
4. For my soul is surfeited with troubles
          and my life draws near to the nether
               world.
5. I am numbered with those who go
               down into the pit:
          I am a man without strength.
6. My couch is among the dead,
          like the slain who lie in the grave,
     Whom you remember no longer
          and who are cut off from your care.
7. You have plunged me into the bottom
               of the pit
          into the dark abyss.
8. Upon me your wrath lies heavy,
          and with all your billows you over-
               whelm me.
9. You have taken my friends away from 
               me;
          you have made me an abomination 
               to them;
           I am improsoned, and cannot es-
                cape.

II.
10. My eyes have grown dim through
                affliction;
          daily I call upon you, O Lord;
          to you I stretch out my hands.
11. Will you work wonders for the dead?
          Will the shades arise to give you 
               thanks?
12. Do they declare your kindness in the 
                grave,
          your faithfulness among those who
               perished?
13. Are your wonders made known in the
               darkness,
          or your justice in the land of ob-
                livion?

III.
14. But I, O Lord, cry out to you;
          with my morning prayer I wait upon
               you.
15. Why, O Lord, do you reject me;
          why hide from me your face?
16. I am afflicted and in agony from my
              youth;
          I am dazed with the burden of your 
              dread.
17. Your furies have swept over me;
          your terrors have cut me off.
18. They encompass me like water all the 
              day;
          on all sides they close in upon me.
19. Companion and neighbor you have
               taken away from me;
          my only friend is darkness.