TG
Everything TrueGospel offers, in one place.

Study

Bible Reader Scripture Search Word Study & Lexicon Bible Study Builder Reading Plans Verse Chains

Reference

The Reference Library Topical Index

Learn

True Gospel Institute

Grow & Share

Blog Q&A Sermon Notes Bible Studies Podcast

Community

Community Student Dashboard

About

About Us Support Us Contact Log In Create Free Account
BSB
← Prev Next →

Psalms 88

BSB·18 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1O LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, the Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י’ĕ·lō·hê — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → of my salvationיְשׁוּעָתִ֑יyə·šū·‘ā·ṯî — Deliverance, salvation, rescue from dangerH3444 — Full Word Study →, dayיוֹם־yō·wm- — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → and nightבַלַּ֣יְלָהḇal·lay·lāh — Night, darkness, the period of darknessH3915 — Full Word Study → I cry outצָעַ֖קְתִּיṣā·‘aq·tî — to cry out, call for help, shriekH6817 — Full Word Study → before Youנֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃neḡ·de·ḵā — before, in front of, in the presence ofH5048 — Full Word Study →. 2May my prayerתְּפִלָּתִ֑יtə·p̄il·lā·ṯî — Prayer; formal or spontaneous petition to GodH8605 — Full Word Study → comeתָּב֣וֹאtā·ḇō·w — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → before Youלְ֭פָנֶיךָlə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →; inclineהַטֵּֽה־haṭ·ṭêh- — to stretch out, extend, incline, bendH5186 — Full Word Study → Your earאָ֝זְנְךָ֗’ā·zə·nə·ḵā — Ear; the organ of hearing and listeningH241 — Full Word Study → to my cryלְרִנָּתִֽי׃lə·rin·nā·ṯî — joyful cry, shout of rejoicingH7440 — Full Word Study →. 3Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → my soulנַפְשִׁ֑יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → is fullשָֽׂבְעָ֣הśā·ḇə·‘āh — to satisfy, fill, have enoughH7646 — Full Word Study → of troublesבְרָע֣וֹתḇə·rā·‘ō·wṯ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study →, and my lifeוְחַיַּ֗יwə·ḥay·yay — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study → draws nearהִגִּֽיעוּ׃hig·gî·‘ū — to touch, reach, strike, or come into contactH5060 — Full Word Study → to Sheolלִשְׁא֥וֹלliš·’ō·wl — The grave; the abode of the dead; the underworldH7585 — Full Word Study →. 4I am countedנֶ֭חְשַׁבְתִּיneḥ·šaḇ·tî — to think, devise, plan, or reckonH2803 — Full Word Study → amongעִם־‘im- — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study → those descendingי֣וֹרְדֵיyō·wr·ḏê — To descend, go down, come downH3381 — Full Word Study → to the Pitב֑וֹרḇō·wr — Pit, cistern, or dungeon; a deep holeH953 — Full Word Study →. I amהָ֝יִ֗יתִיhā·yî·ṯî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → like a manכְּגֶ֣בֶרkə·ḡe·ḇer — Man, mighty man, strong manH1397 — Full Word Study → withoutאֵֽין־’ên- — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → strengthאֱיָֽל׃’ĕ·yāl — strength, power, mightH353 — Full Word Study →. 5I am forsakenחָ֫פְשִׁ֥יḥā·p̄ə·šî — free, liberated, exempt from obligationH2670 — Full Word Study → among the deadבַּמֵּתִ֗יםbam·mê·ṯîm — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study →, likeכְּמ֤וֹkə·mōw — Like; according to; asH3644 — Full Word Study → the slainחֲלָלִ֨ים׀ḥă·lā·lîm — to pierce through; to kill or slayH2491 — Full Word Study → who lieשֹׁ֥כְבֵיšō·ḵə·ḇê — to lie down, recline, sleepH7901 — Full Word Study → in the graveקֶ֗בֶרqe·ḇer — A grave or burial place; a tombH6913 — Full Word Study →, whomאֲשֶׁ֤ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → Youלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → rememberזְכַרְתָּ֣םzə·ḵar·tām — to remember, recall, or mentionH2142 — Full Word Study → no moreע֑וֹד‘ō·wḏ — still, yet, again, continuing or additional occurrenceH5750 — Full Word Study →, whoוְ֝הֵ֗מָּהwə·hêm·māh — They, them (masculine plural pronoun)H1992 — Full Word Study → are cut offנִגְזָֽרוּ׃niḡ·zā·rū — To cut; to decree or determineH1504 — Full Word Study → from Your careמִיָּדְךָ֥mî·yā·ḏə·ḵā — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →. 6You have laid meשַׁ֭תַּנִיšat·ta·nî — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → in the lowestתַּחְתִּיּ֑וֹתtaḥ·tî·yō·wṯ — lower, beneath, underside; lowest partH8482 — Full Word Study → Pitבְּב֣וֹרbə·ḇō·wr — Pit, cistern, or dungeon; a deep holeH953 — Full Word Study →, in the darkestבְּ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗יםbə·ma·ḥă·šak·kîm — darkness, obscurity, gloomH4285 — Full Word Study → of the depthsבִּמְצֹלֽוֹת׃bim·ṣō·lō·wṯ — The bottom or depths; the abyssH4688 — Full Word Study →. 7Your wrathחֲמָתֶ֑ךָḥă·mā·ṯe·ḵā — Intense rage, burning wrath, divine angerH2534 — Full Word Study → weighs heavilyסָמְכָ֣הsā·mə·ḵāh — to support, sustain, upholdH5564 — Full Word Study → upon meעָ֭לַי‘ā·lay — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →; allוְכָל־wə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → Your wavesמִ֝שְׁבָּרֶ֗יךָmiš·bā·re·ḵā — Wave, billow, or surge of waterH4867 — Full Word Study → have submerged me. Selahסֶּֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 8You have removedהִרְחַ֥קְתָּhir·ḥaq·tā — to be far, remove, distance oneselfH7368 — Full Word Study → my friendsמְיֻדָּעַ֗יmə·yud·dā·‘ay — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → from meמִ֫מֶּ֥נִּיmim·men·nî — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study →; You have made meשַׁתַּ֣נִיšat·ta·nî — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → repulsiveתוֹעֵב֣וֹתṯō·w·‘ê·ḇō·wṯ — Abomination; something detestable or loathsomeH8441 — Full Word Study → to them; I am confinedכָּ֝לֻ֗אkā·lu — To restrain, hold back, or shut upH3607 — Full Word Study → and cannotוְלֹ֣אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → escapeאֵצֵֽא׃’ê·ṣê — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study →. 9My eyesעֵינִ֥י‘ê·nî — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → grow dimדָאֲבָ֗הḏā·’ă·ḇāh — To languish, grieve, or waste awayH1669 — Full Word Study → withמִנִּ֫יmin·nî — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → griefעֹ֥נִי‘ō·nî — affliction, distress, troubleH6040 — Full Word Study →. I call to Youקְרָאתִ֣יךָqə·rā·ṯî·ḵā — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → dailyבְּכָל־bə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →; I spread outשִׁטַּ֖חְתִּיšiṭ·ṭaḥ·tî — To spread out, stretch forth, or extendH7849 — Full Word Study → my handsכַפָּֽי׃ḵap·pāy — Palm of the hand; hollow of anything; power or controlH3709 — Full Word Study → to Youאֵלֶ֣יךָ’ê·le·ḵā — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →. 10Do You workתַּעֲשֶׂה־ta·‘ă·śeh- — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → wondersפֶּ֑לֶאpe·le — Wonder, marvel, or miraculous thingH6382 — Full Word Study → for the deadהֲלַמֵּתִ֥יםhă·lam·mê·ṯîm — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study →? Do departed spiritsרְ֝פָאִ֗יםrə·p̄ā·’îm — Shade, shadow, ghost of the deadH7496 — Full Word Study → rise upיָק֤וּמוּ׀yā·qū·mū — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study → to praise Youיוֹד֬וּךָyō·w·ḏū·ḵā — To give thanks, praise, or acknowledgeH3034 — Full Word Study →? Selahסֶּֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 11Can Your loving devotionחַסְדֶּ֑ךָḥas·de·ḵā — Covenant loyalty and steadfast kindnessH2617 — Full Word Study → be proclaimedהַיְסֻפַּ֣רhay·sup·par — To count, record, or declareH5608 — Full Word Study → in the graveבַּקֶּ֣בֶרbaq·qe·ḇer — A grave or burial place; a tombH6913 — Full Word Study →, Your faithfulnessאֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗’ĕ·mū·nā·ṯə·ḵā — Faithfulness, steadfastness, reliabilityH530 — Full Word Study → in Abaddonבָּאֲבַדּֽוֹן׃bā·’ă·ḇad·dō·wn — Destruction, ruin, perditionH11 — Full Word Study →? 12Will Your wondersפִּלְאֶ֑ךָpil·’e·ḵā — Wonder, marvel, or miraculous thingH6382 — Full Word Study → be knownהֲיִוָּדַ֣עhă·yiw·wā·ḏa‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → in the darknessבַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְba·ḥō·šeḵ — Darkness; absence of light; obscurityH2822 — Full Word Study →, or Your righteousnessוְ֝צִדְקָתְךָ֗wə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯə·ḵā — Righteousness, justice, right conductH6666 — Full Word Study → in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbə·’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → of oblivionנְשִׁיָּֽה׃nə·šî·yāh — forgetfulness, oblivion, state of being forgottenH5388 — Full Word Study →? 13Butוַאֲנִ֤י׀wa·’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → to Youאֵלֶ֣יךָ’ê·le·ḵā — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, I cry for helpשִׁוַּ֑עְתִּיšiw·wa‘·tî — to cry out, shout for helpH7768 — Full Word Study →; in the morningוּ֝בַבֹּ֗קֶרū·ḇab·bō·qer — Morning; daybreak; the early part of the dayH1242 — Full Word Study → my prayerתְּֽפִלָּתִ֥יtə·p̄il·lā·ṯî — Prayer; formal or spontaneous petition to GodH8605 — Full Word Study → comes before Youתְקַדְּמֶֽךָּ׃ṯə·qad·də·me·kā — to meet, come before, prevent, anticipateH6923 — Full Word Study →. 14Whyלָמָ֣הlā·māh — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, do You rejectתִּזְנַ֣חtiz·naḥ — to reject, cast off, forsakeH2186 — Full Word Study → meנַפְשִׁ֑יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →? Why do You hideתַּסְתִּ֖ירtas·tîr — To hide, conceal, or keep secretH5641 — Full Word Study → Your faceפָּנֶ֣יךָpā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → from meמִמֶּֽנִּי׃mim·men·nî — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study →? 15From my youthמִנֹּ֑עַרmin·nō·‘ar — Youth; a young person or childH5290 — Full Word Study → I was afflictedעָ֘נִ֤י‘ā·nî — Poor, afflicted, humbleH6041 — Full Word Study → and near deathוְגֹוֵ֣עַwə·ḡō·wê·a‘ — to expire, breathe one's last, dieH1478 — Full Word Study →. I have borneנָשָׂ֖אתִיnā·śā·ṯî — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → Your terrorsאֵמֶ֣יךָ’ê·me·ḵā — Terror, dread, fearful aweH367 — Full Word Study →; I am in despairאָפֽוּנָה׃’ā·p̄ū·nāh — to turn aside, be distracted, or scatterH6323 — Full Word Study →. 16Your wrathחֲרוֹנֶ֑יךָḥă·rō·w·ne·ḵā — Burning anger, fierce wrathH2740 — Full Word Study → has sweptעָבְר֣וּ‘ā·ḇə·rū — to cross over; to pass through or beyondH5674 — Full Word Study → over meעָ֭לַי‘ā·lay — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →; Your terrorsבִּ֝עוּתֶ֗יךָbi·‘ū·ṯe·ḵā — Terrors, frightening things, objects of dreadH1161 — Full Word Study → have destroyed meצִמְּתוּתֻֽנִי׃ṣim·mə·ṯū·ṯu·nî — To cut off, destroy utterly, consume completelyH6789 — Full Word Study →. 17Allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → day longהַיּ֑וֹםhay·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → they engulf meסַבּ֣וּנִיsab·bū·nî — to turn, surround, go aroundH5437 — Full Word Study → like waterכַ֭מַּיִםḵam·ma·yim — Water; liquid; fluidsH4325 — Full Word Study →; they enclose meהִקִּ֖יפוּhiq·qî·p̄ū — to encircle, surround, or strike downH5362 — Full Word Study → onעָלַ֣י‘ā·lay — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → every sideיָֽחַד׃yā·ḥaḏ — together, united, as oneH3162 — Full Word Study →. 18You have removedהִרְחַ֣קְתָּhir·ḥaq·tā — to be far, remove, distance oneselfH7368 — Full Word Study → myמִ֭מֶּנִּיmim·men·nî — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → belovedאֹהֵ֣ב’ō·hêḇ — To love; affection, attachment, or preferenceH157 — Full Word Study → and my friendוָרֵ֑עַwā·rê·a‘ — neighbor, friend, companion, associateH7453 — Full Word Study →; darknessמַחְשָֽׁךְ׃maḥ·šāḵ — darkness, obscurity, gloomH4285 — Full Word Study → is my closest companionמְֽיֻדָּעַ֥יmə·yud·dā·‘ay — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study →.
Scripture Explorer
Original Language
Notes & Doctrine
Chapter Commentary
Cross-Refs
Highlight
My Note
Original Hebrew / Greek
Loading…
Translation Notes & Doctrine — This Verse
Loading…
Chapter Commentary — Psalms 88
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 88 is the darkest of all the psalms—a cry of profound suffering with no resolution or promise of relief within its verses. The psalmist (traditionally ascribed to Heman the Ezrahite) pours out a lament of physical affliction, spiritual isolation, and the terrifying sense of God's abandonment. Unlike most lament psalms, there is no turn toward hope, no declaration of trust, and no assurance of deliverance. Instead, the psalm ends in darkness. Yet this very honesty makes it pastorally invaluable: it gives voice to believers experiencing genuine despair, and it invites us to bring our deepest anguish before the Lord without pretense or false comfort.

Verses 1–5: A Persistent Cry from the Depths

The psalmist begins by establishing that he has been calling out to God day and night, addressing him as "LORD God of my salvation" (v. 1). Despite this constancy, his prayer feels unheard; he appeals to God to incline his ear and listen to his cry (v. 2). His condition is grave: his soul is full of troubles, and his life is approaching death (v. 3). He describes himself as already counted among the dead, as one descending into the pit, without strength (v. 4). In verse 5, the imagery becomes stark—he feels like the slain in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more, cut off from God's hand and care. This section establishes the depth of both physical and spiritual crisis: the psalmist is dying, isolated, and abandoned.

Application: When we or those we minister to face deep suffering, silence from heaven can feel like judgment or rejection. This psalm validates that anguish without offering cheap answers.

Verses 6–9: Divine Wrath and Social Isolation

The psalmist now attributes his suffering directly to God's action: "Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps" (v. 6). God's wrath and affliction are upon him like waves (v. 7)—overwhelming, relentless, drowning. Compounding physical suffering is social devastation: God has removed his friends and made him an abomination to those around him (v. 8). He is isolated, imprisoned, unable to escape. Yet even in this abandonment, he has not stopped praying; his eye weeps, and he calls and stretches out his hands to God daily (v. 9). The paradox is profound—he continues addressing God as if God listens, even while experiencing apparent silence.

Application: Suffering often isolates us relationally as well as physically. The psalmist's perseverance in prayer despite rejection teaches us that faithfulness is not contingent on feeling heard.

Verses 10–12: The Futility of Praise in Death

Here the psalmist questions God with a series of rhetorical questions (vv. 10–12). Will God show wonders to the dead? Will the dead rise to praise him? Can lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Can faithfulness be proclaimed in destruction? This is not mere philosophy; it reflects the Old Testament understanding that praise belongs to the living. The psalmist is saying: If I die here, your praise dies with me. From the grave, in darkness, in the land of forgetfulness—no one remembers, no one worships, no one declares God's righteousness.

Verses 13–18: No Comfort, Only Persistence

Yet the psalmist turns once more to God (v. 13): "unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee." He hopes his morning prayer will somehow come before God. But immediately the questions return: "LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?" (v. 14). Afflicted since youth (v. 15), distracted by God's terrors (v. 15), overwhelmed by fierce wrath (v. 16), surrounded daily like water (v. 17), he is entirely bereft—lover, friend, and acquaintance all removed into darkness (v. 18). The psalm ends not in hope but in unresolved pain.

Application for Today

Psalm 88 teaches us that faith includes lamenting honestly before God. We need not manufacture hope or suppress genuine anguish. Bring your unanswered questions, your abandonment, your despair to the Lord. He welcomes the cries of the broken. Though this psalm offers no earthly resolution, it models fidelity to God even in the dark—and reminds us that God's silence is not God's absence.

Cross References
Loading…
Highlight This Verse
My Note