Psalm 88 (NRSV)

1O LORD, God of my salvation,
when, at night, I cry out in your presence,
2let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry.
3For my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.
4I am counted among those who go down to the Pit;
I am like those who have no help,
5like those forsaken among the dead,
like the slain that lie in the grave,
like those whom you remember no more,
for they are cut off from your hand.
6You have put me in the depths of the Pit,
in the regions dark and deep.
7Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
and you overwhelm me with all your waves.
Selah

8You have caused my companions to shun me;
you have made me a thing of horror to them.
I am shut in so that I cannot escape;
9my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call on you, O LORD;
I spread out my hands to you.
10Do you work wonders for the dead?
Do the shades rise up to praise you?
Selah

11Is your steadfast love declared in the grave,
or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12Are your wonders known in the darkness,
or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness?
13But I, O LORD, cry out to you;
in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14O LORD, why do you cast me off?
Why do you hide your face from me?
15Wretched and close to death from my youth up,
I suffer your terrors; I am desperate.
16Your wrath has swept over me;
your dread assaults destroy me.
17They surround me like a flood all day long;
from all sides they close in on me.
18You have caused friend and neighbor to shun me;
my companions are in darkness.

ELCA's daily Bible readings are chosen from "Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings," prepared by Consultation on the Common Texts, © 2005.
All text is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyrighted, 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches USA, and is used by permission. All rights reserved.