Psalm 87

Zion, the City of God

A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.

His foundation is on the holy mountains.(A)
The Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.(B)
Glorious things are said about you,
city of God.(C)Selah

“I will mention those who know Me:
Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush—
each one was born there.”(D)
And it will be said of Zion,
“This one and that one were born in her.”
The Most High Himself will establish her.(E)
When He registers the peoples,
the Lord will record,
“This one was born there.”(F)Selah
Singers and dancers alike will say,
“My whole source of joy is[a] in you.”(G)

Psalm 88

A Cry of Desperation

A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.(H)

Lord, God of my salvation,
I cry out before You day and night.(I)
May my prayer reach Your presence;
listen to my cry.(J)

For I have had enough troubles,
and my life is near Sheol.(K)
I am counted among those going down to the Pit.(L)
I am like a man without strength,(M)
abandoned[b] among the dead.
I am like the slain lying in the grave,(N)
whom You no longer remember,
and who are cut off from Your care.[c](O)

You have put me in the lowest part of the Pit,
in the darkest places, in the depths.(P)
Your wrath weighs heavily on me;(Q)
You have overwhelmed me with all Your waves.(R)Selah
You have distanced my friends from me;
You have made me repulsive to them.(S)
I am shut in and cannot go out.
My eyes are worn out from crying.(T)
Lord, I cry out to You all day long;(U)
I spread out my hands to You.(V)

10 Do You work wonders for the dead?
Do departed spirits rise up to praise You?(W)Selah
11 Will Your faithful love be declared in the grave,
Your faithfulness in Abaddon?(X)
12 Will Your wonders be known in the darkness
or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?(Y)

13 But I call to You for help, Lord;
in the morning my prayer meets You.(Z)
14 Lord, why do You reject me?(AA)
Why do You hide Your face from me?(AB)
15 From my youth,
I have been afflicted and near death.
I suffer Your horrors; I am desperate.(AC)
16 Your wrath sweeps over me;
Your terrors destroy me.(AD)
17 They surround me like water all day long;
they close in on me from every side.(AE)
18 You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me;
darkness is my only friend.[d](AF)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 87:7 Lit “All my springs, are
  2. Psalm 88:5 Or set free
  3. Psalm 88:5 Or hand
  4. Psalm 88:18 Or from me, my friends. Oh darkness!

Bible Gateway Recommends