4 I am counted H2803 with them that go down H3381 into the pit: H953 I am as a man H1397 that hath no strength: H353
[[A Psalm of David.]] H1732 Unto thee will I cry, H7121 O LORD H3068 my rock; H6697 be not silent H2814 to me: lest, if thou be silent H2790 to me, I become H4911 like them that go down H3381 into the pit. H953
What profit H1215 is there in my blood, H1818 when I go down H3381 to the pit? H7845 Shall the dust H6083 praise H3034 thee? shall it declare H5046 thy truth? H571
I am forgotten H7911 as a dead man H4191 out of mind: H3820 I am like a broken H6 vessel. H3627
For I am poor H6041 and needy, H34 and my heart H3820 is wounded H2490 within H7130 me. I am gone H1980 like the shadow H6738 when it declineth: H5186 I am tossed up and down H5287 as the locust. H697 My knees H1290 are weak H3782 through fasting; H6685 and my flesh H1320 faileth H3584 of fatness. H8081
Behold, for peace H7965 I had great bitterness: H4751 H4843 but thou hast in love H2836 to my soul H5315 delivered it from the pit H7845 of corruption: H1097 for thou hast cast H7993 all my sins H2399 behind H310 thy back. H1460 For the grave H7585 cannot praise H3034 thee, death H4194 can not celebrate H1984 thee: they that go down H3381 into the pit H953 cannot hope H7663 for thy truth. H571
When I shall bring thee down H3381 with them that descend H3381 into the pit, H953 with the people H5971 of old time, H5769 and shall set H3427 thee in the low parts H8482 of the earth, H776 in places desolate H2723 of old, H5769 with them that go down H3381 to the pit, H953 that thou be not inhabited; H3427 and I shall set H5414 glory H6643 in the land H776 of the living; H2416
For G1063 when we G2257 were G5607 yet G2089 without strength, G772 in due G2596 time G2540 Christ G5547 died G599 for G5228 the ungodly. G765
But G235 G846 we had G2192 the sentence G610 of death G2288 in G1722 ourselves, G1438 that G3363 we should G3982 not G3363 trust G3982 in G1909 ourselves, G1438 G5600 but G235 in G1909 God G2316 which G3588 raiseth G1453 the dead: G3498
For G1063 G2532 though G1487 he was crucified G4717 through G1537 weakness, G769 yet G235 he liveth G2198 by G1537 the power G1411 of God. G2316 For G1063 we G2249 also G2532 are weak G770 in G1722 him, G846 but G235 we shall live G2198 with G4862 him G846 by G1537 the power G1411 of God G2316 toward G1519 you. G5209
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 88
Commentary on Psalms 88 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 88
Ps 88:1-18. Upon Mahalath—either an instrument, as a lute, to be used as an accompaniment (Leannoth, "for singing") or, as others think, an enigmatic title (see on Ps 5:1, Ps 22:1, and Ps 45:1, titles), denoting the subject—that is, "sickness or disease, for humbling," the idea of spiritual maladies being often represented by disease (compare Ps 6:5, 6; 22:14, 15, &c.). On the other terms, see on Ps 42:1 and Ps 32:1. Heman and Ethan (see on Ps 89:1, title) were David's singers (1Ch 6:18, 33; 15:17), of the family of Kohath. If the persons alluded to (1Ki 4:31; 1Ch 2:6), they were probably adopted into the tribe of Judah. Though called a song, which usually implies joy (Ps 83:1), both the style and matter of the Psalm are very despondent; yet the appeals to God evince faith, and we may suppose that the word "song" might be extended to such compositions.
1, 2. Compare on the terms used, Ps 22:2; 31:2.
3. grave—literally, "hell" (Ps 16:10), death in wide sense.
4. go … pit—of destruction (Ps 28:1).
as a man—literally, "a stout man," whose strength is utterly gone.
5. Free … dead—Cut off from God's care, as are the slain, who, falling under His wrath, are left, no longer sustained by His hand.
6. Similar figures for distress in Ps 63:9; 69:3.
7. Compare Ps 38:2, on first, and Ps 42:7, on last clause.
8. Both cut off from sympathy and made hateful to friends (Ps 31:11).
9. Mine eye mourneth—literally, "decays," or fails, denoting exhaustion (Ps 6:7; 31:9).
I … called—(Ps 86:5, 7).
stretched out—for help (Ps 44:20).
10. shall the dead—the remains of ghosts.
arise—literally, "rise up," that is, as dead persons.
11, 12. amplify the foregoing, the whole purport (as Ps 6:5) being to contrast death and life as seasons for praising God.
13. prevent—meet—that is, he will diligently come before God for help (Ps 18:41).
14. On the terms (Ps 27:9; 74:1; 77:7).
15. from … youth up—all my life.
16, 17. the extremes of anguish and despair are depicted.
18. into darkness—Better omit "into"—"mine acquaintances (are) darkness," the gloom of death, &c. (Job 17:13, 14).