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Among the Dead

Psalm 88

Listen and Read to Psalm 88

Read along and listen to our audio recordings for Psalm 88. Choose between simple, unaffected audio recordings (in Hebrew or English), or a dramatized reading that takes into account our emotional and discourse analyses. You can also choose between a text-only view, a view overlaid with our summary At-a-Glance, or our Expanded Paraphrase.

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Text Only (Hebrew and English)

Text (Hebrew)	Verse	Text (CBC) The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.
שִׁ֥יר מִזְמ֗וֹר לִבְנֵ֫י קֹ֥רַח	1a	A song. A psalm. By the sons of Korah.
לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־מָחֲלַ֣ת לְעַנּ֑וֹת	1b	For the director. About illness, for self-affliction.
מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְהֵימָ֥ן הָאֶזְרָחִֽי׃	1c	A maskil. By Heman the Ezrahite.
יְ֭הוָה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יְשׁוּעָתִ֑י	2a	YHWH, God of my salvation,
יוֹם־צָעַ֖קְתִּי בַלַּ֣יְלָה נֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃	2b	I have been crying out day and night before you.
תָּב֣וֹא לְ֭פָנֶיךָ תְּפִלָּתִ֑י	3a	May my prayer find favor with you!
הַטֵּֽה־אָ֝זְנְךָ֗ לְרִנָּתִֽי׃	3b	Incline your ear to my cry!
כִּֽי־שָֽׂבְעָ֣ה בְרָע֣וֹת נַפְשִׁ֑י	4a	For I am weary of troubles,
וְחַיַּ֗י לִשְׁא֥וֹל הִגִּֽיעוּ׃	4b	And my life has reached Sheol.
נֶ֭חְשַׁבְתִּי עִם־י֣וֹרְדֵי ב֑וֹר	5a	I am counted with those who go down to the Pit.
הָ֝יִ֗יתִי כְּגֶ֣בֶר אֵֽין־אֱיָֽל׃	5b	I have become just like a man who has no strength.
בַּמֵּתִ֗ים חָ֫פְשִׁ֥י	6a	[I am] an outcast among the dead,
כְּמ֤וֹ חֲלָלִ֨ים ׀ שֹׁ֥כְבֵי קֶ֗בֶר	6b	just like the slain ones who are lying in the tomb,
אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹ֣א זְכַרְתָּ֣ם ע֑וֹד	6c	whom you do not remember anymore,
וְ֝הֵ֗מָּה מִיָּדְךָ֥ נִגְזָֽרוּ׃	6d	and [who] have been cut off from your care.
שַׁ֭תַּנִי בְּב֣וֹר תַּחְתִּיּ֑וֹת	7a	You have put me in the lowest pit,
בְּ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים בִּמְצֹלֽוֹת׃	7b	in dark places, in watery depths.
עָ֭לַי סָמְכָ֣ה חֲמָתֶ֑ךָ	8a	Your outbursts of wrath have been lying heavily on me,
וְכָל־מִ֝שְׁבָּרֶ֗יךָ עִנִּ֥יתָ סֶּֽלָה׃	8b	and you have been afflicting me with all your waves. Selah.
הִרְחַ֥קְתָּ מְיֻדָּעַ֗י מִ֫מֶּ֥נִּי	9a	you have caused my acquaintances to shun me.
שַׁתַּ֣נִי תוֹעֵב֣וֹת לָ֑מוֹ	9b	You have made me repulsive to them.
כָּ֝לֻ֗א וְלֹ֣א אֵצֵֽא׃	9c	[You have made me] shut in, so that I cannot get out.
עֵינִ֥י דָאֲבָ֗ה מִנִּ֫י עֹ֥נִי	10a	My eyes have languished from misery.
קְרָאתִ֣יךָ יְהוָ֣ה בְּכָל־י֑וֹם	10b	I have been calling to you, YHWH, every day.
שִׁטַּ֖חְתִּי אֵלֶ֣יךָ כַפָּֽי׃	10c	I have been spreading out my hands to you.
הֲלַמֵּתִ֥ים תַּעֲשֶׂה־פֶּ֑לֶא	11a	Do you perform wonders for the dead?
אִם־רְ֝פָאִ֗ים יָק֤וּמוּ ׀ יוֹד֬וּךָ סֶּֽלָה׃	11b	Do the departed spirits rise up to praise you? Selah.
הַיְסֻפַּ֣ר בַּקֶּ֣בֶר חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ	12a	Is your faithful love recounted in the tomb?
אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בָּאֲבַדּֽוֹן׃	12b	[Is] your faithfulness [recounted] in the place of destruction?
הֲיִוָּדַ֣ע בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ פִּלְאֶ֑ךָ	13a	Can your wonders be known in the dark region?
וְ֝צִדְקָתְךָ֗ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ נְשִׁיָּֽה׃	13b	And [can] your righteousness [be known] in the land of oblivion?
וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ אֵלֶ֣יךָ יְהוָ֣ה שִׁוַּ֑עְתִּי	14a	But I have been crying out to you for help, YHWH,
וּ֝בַבֹּ֗קֶר תְּֽפִלָּתִ֥י תְקַדְּמֶֽךָּ׃	14b	and my prayer will keep welcoming you in the morning.
לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תִּזְנַ֣ח נַפְשִׁ֑י	15a	Why, YHWH, do you keep rejecting me?
תַּסְתִּ֖יר פָּנֶ֣יךָ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃	15b	[Why] do you keep hiding your face from me?
עָ֘נִ֤י אֲנִ֣י וְגֹוֵ֣עַ מִנֹּ֑עַר	16a	I [have been] afflicted and close to death from [my] youth,
נָשָׂ֖אתִי אֵמֶ֣יךָ *אֶפּוֹרָה*׃	16b	I’ve been suffering your terrifying assaults, and keep being torn apart.
עָ֭לַי עָבְר֣וּ חֲרוֹנֶ֑יךָ	17a	Your outbursts of wrath have been sweeping over me;
בִּ֝עוּתֶ֗יךָ *צִמְּתוּנִי*׃	17b	Your terrifying assaults have been destroying me.
סַבּ֣וּנִי כַ֭מַּיִם כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם	18a	They have been surrounding me like water constantly;
הִקִּ֖יפוּ עָלַ֣י יָֽחַד׃	18b	They have been closing in on me together.
הִרְחַ֣קְתָּ מִ֭מֶּנִּי אֹהֵ֣ב וָרֵ֑עַ	19a	You have caused all my friends and companions to shun me;
מְֽיֻדָּעַ֥י *מֵחֹשֶׁךְ*׃	19b	You have caused my acquaintances to shun my distress.

Structure Overlay Below, the text has been overlaid with our summary structural analysis. For details on the structure, see the Structure At-a-Glance here.

Speaker		Structure At-a-Glance		Text (Hebrew)	Verse	Text (CBC) The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.	These labels characterize the primary expressed emotion of the psalmist in each section.	Addressee
				שִׁ֥יר מִזְמ֗וֹר לִבְנֵ֫י קֹ֥רַח	1a	A song. A psalm. By the sons of Korah.
Psalmist		Afflicted and Fearing Death		לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־מָחֲלַ֣ת לְעַנּ֑וֹת	1b	For the director. About illness, for self-affliction.	desperate & hopeful	YHWH
				מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְהֵימָ֥ן הָאֶזְרָחִֽי׃	1c	A maskil. By Heman the Ezrahite.
				יְ֭הוָה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יְשׁוּעָתִ֑י	2a	YHWH, God of my salvation,
				יוֹם־צָעַ֖קְתִּי בַלַּ֣יְלָה נֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃	2b	I have been crying out day and night before you.
				תָּב֣וֹא לְ֭פָנֶיךָ תְּפִלָּתִ֑י	3a	May my prayer find favor with you!
				הַטֵּֽה־אָ֝זְנְךָ֗ לְרִנָּתִֽי׃	3b	Incline your ear to my cry!
				כִּֽי־שָֽׂבְעָ֣ה בְרָע֣וֹת נַפְשִׁ֑י	4a	For I am weary of troubles,
				וְחַיַּ֗י לִשְׁא֥וֹל הִגִּֽיעוּ׃	4b	And my life has reached Sheol.
				נֶ֭חְשַׁבְתִּי עִם־י֣וֹרְדֵי ב֑וֹר	5a	I am counted with those who go down to the Pit.
				הָ֝יִ֗יתִי כְּגֶ֣בֶר אֵֽין־אֱיָֽל׃	5b	I have become just like a man who has no strength.
				בַּמֵּתִ֗ים חָ֫פְשִׁ֥י	6a	[I am] an outcast among the dead,	humiliated
				כְּמ֤וֹ חֲלָלִ֨ים ׀ שֹׁ֥כְבֵי קֶ֗בֶר	6b	just like the slain ones who are lying in the tomb,
				אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹ֣א זְכַרְתָּ֣ם ע֑וֹד	6c	whom you do not remember anymore,
				וְ֝הֵ֗מָּה מִיָּדְךָ֥ נִגְזָֽרוּ׃	6d	and [who] have been cut off from your care.
				שַׁ֭תַּנִי בְּב֣וֹר תַּחְתִּיּ֑וֹת	7a	You have put me in the lowest pit,	angry
				בְּ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים בִּמְצֹלֽוֹת׃	7b	in dark places, in watery depths.
				עָ֭לַי סָמְכָ֣ה חֲמָתֶ֑ךָ	8a	Your outbursts of wrath have been lying heavily on me,
				וְכָל־מִ֝שְׁבָּרֶ֗יךָ עִנִּ֥יתָ סֶּֽלָה׃	8b	and you have been afflicting me with all your waves. Selah.
				הִרְחַ֥קְתָּ מְיֻדָּעַ֗י מִ֫מֶּ֥נִּי	9a	you have caused my acquaintances to shun me.
				שַׁתַּ֣נִי תוֹעֵב֣וֹת לָ֑מוֹ	9b	You have made me repulsive to them.
				כָּ֝לֻ֗א וְלֹ֣א אֵצֵֽא׃	9c	[You have made me] shut in, so that I cannot get out.
				עֵינִ֥י דָאֲבָ֗ה מִנִּ֫י עֹ֥נִי	10a	My eyes have languished from misery.
				קְרָאתִ֣יךָ יְהוָ֣ה בְּכָל־י֑וֹם	10b	I have been calling to you, YHWH, every day.
				שִׁטַּ֖חְתִּי אֵלֶ֣יךָ כַפָּֽי׃	10c	I have been spreading out my hands to you.
		Facing Death		הֲלַמֵּתִ֥ים תַּעֲשֶׂה־פֶּ֑לֶא	11a	Do you perform wonders for the dead?	determined
				אִם־רְ֝פָאִ֗ים יָק֤וּמוּ ׀ יוֹד֬וּךָ סֶּֽלָה׃	11b	Do the departed spirits rise up to praise you? Selah.
				הַיְסֻפַּ֣ר בַּקֶּ֣בֶר חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ	12a	Is your faithful love recounted in the tomb?
				אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בָּאֲבַדּֽוֹן׃	12b	[Is] your faithfulness [recounted] in the place of destruction?
				הֲיִוָּדַ֣ע בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ פִּלְאֶ֑ךָ	13a	Can your wonders be known in the dark region?
				וְ֝צִדְקָתְךָ֗ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ נְשִׁיָּֽה׃	13b	And [can] your righteousness [be known] in the land of oblivion?
		Afflicted and Continuing to Pray		וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ אֵלֶ֣יךָ יְהוָ֣ה שִׁוַּ֑עְתִּי	14a	But I have been crying out to you for help, YHWH,	hopeful & terrified
				וּ֝בַבֹּ֗קֶר תְּֽפִלָּתִ֥י תְקַדְּמֶֽךָּ׃	14b	and my prayer will keep welcoming you in the morning.
				לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תִּזְנַ֣ח נַפְשִׁ֑י	15a	Why, YHWH, do you keep rejecting me?
				תַּסְתִּ֖יר פָּנֶ֣יךָ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃	15b	[Why] do you keep hiding your face from me?
				עָ֘נִ֤י אֲנִ֣י וְגֹוֵ֣עַ מִנֹּ֑עַר	16a	I [have been] afflicted and close to death from [my] youth,
				נָשָׂ֖אתִי אֵמֶ֣יךָ *אֶפּוֹרָה*׃	16b	I’ve been suffering your terrifying assaults, and keep being torn apart.
				עָ֭לַי עָבְר֣וּ חֲרוֹנֶ֑יךָ	17a	Your outbursts of wrath have been sweeping over me;
				בִּ֝עוּתֶ֗יךָ *צִמְּתוּנִי*׃	17b	Your terrifying assaults have been destroying me.
				סַבּ֣וּנִי כַ֭מַּיִם כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם	18a	They have been surrounding me like water constantly;
				הִקִּ֖יפוּ עָלַ֣י יָֽחַד׃	18b	They have been closing in on me together.
				הִרְחַ֣קְתָּ מִ֭מֶּנִּי אֹהֵ֣ב וָרֵ֑עַ	19a	You have caused all my friends and companions to shun me;
				מְֽיֻדָּעַ֥י *מֵחֹשֶׁךְ*׃	19b	You have caused my acquaintances to shun my distress.

Expanded paraphrase

The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.

(For more information, click "Expanded Paraphrase Legend" below.)

Expanded Paraphrase Legend

Expanded paraphrase legend
Close but Clear (CBC) translation	The CBC, our close but clear translation of the Hebrew, is represented in bold text.
Assumptions	Assumptions which provide background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences are represented in italics.

Text (Hebrew)	Verse	Expanded Paraphrase The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.
שִׁ֥יר מִזְמ֗וֹר לִבְנֵ֫י קֹ֥רַח	1a	A song. A psalm. By the sons of Korah.
לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־מָחֲלַ֣ת לְעַנּ֑וֹת	1b	For the director. About illness, for self-affliction.
מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְהֵימָ֥ן הָאֶזְרָחִֽי׃	1c	A maskil. By Heman the Ezrahite.
יְ֭הוָה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יְשׁוּעָתִ֑י	2a	YHWH, God of my salvation,
יוֹם־צָעַ֖קְתִּי בַלַּ֣יְלָה נֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃	2b	I have been crying out day and night before you, because I am suffering and desperate and you answer those in covenant with you who pray to you.
תָּב֣וֹא לְ֭פָנֶיךָ תְּפִלָּתִ֑י	3a	May my prayer find favor with you, you, who have your eyes and ears tuned towards all human beings, who listen to people's prayers and answer them!
הַטֵּֽה־אָ֝זְנְךָ֗ לְרִנָּתִֽי׃	3b	Incline your ear to my cry! You, who are aware of my miserable conditions, do something about it and save me!
כִּֽי־שָֽׂבְעָ֣ה בְרָע֣וֹת נַפְשִׁ֑י	4a	For I am weary of troubles and I have reached a point where my existence is unbearable; I am seriously ill and dying,
וְחַיַּ֗י לִשְׁא֥וֹל הִגִּֽיעוּ׃	4b	and my life has reached Sheol. I am at the gates of Sheol, namely, about to die, and only you can redeem me from there!
נֶ֭חְשַׁבְתִּי עִם־י֣וֹרְדֵי ב֑וֹר	5a	I am counted with those who go down to the Pit, namely, the Netherworld - everyone knows of my miserable condition.
הָ֝יִ֗יתִי כְּגֶ֣בֶר אֵֽין־אֱיָֽל׃	5b	I have become like a man who has no strength. I used to be a strong, productive man contributing to society, but now I have lost my strength, so I am no longer valuable to society, which considers me as an unproductive individual.
בַּמֵּתִ֗ים חָ֫פְשִׁ֥י	6a	[I am] an outcast despised and excommunicated among the dead,
כְּמ֤וֹ חֲלָלִ֨ים ׀ שֹׁ֥כְבֵי קֶ֗בֶר	6b	just like the slain who died in battle, despised as well in the Netherworld, since they were buried in mass graves and who are lying in the tomb,
אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹ֣א זְכַרְתָּ֣ם ע֑וֹד	6c	whom you do not remember anymore since the dead are forgotten by you,
וְ֝הֵ֗מָּה מִיָּדְךָ֥ נִגְזָֽרוּ׃	6d	and [who] have been cut off from your care and have no channel of communication with you. In the same way, you have forgotten and forsaken me, and I have no hope.
שַׁ֭תַּנִי בְּב֣וֹר תַּחְתִּיּ֑וֹת	7a	You are ultimately responsible for my conditions, as you have put me in the lowest pit,
בְּ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים בִּמְצֹלֽוֹת׃	7b	in dark places, in watery depths of Sheol, like Jeremiah, who was sent down into the pit. Did I anger you, like Jeremiah angered the king? Are you punishing me for something I did?
עָ֭לַי סָמְכָ֣ה חֲמָתֶ֑ךָ	8a	Your outbursts of wrath have been lying heavily on me, like a priest putting his hands on a sacrifice or on a scapegoat bearing the sins of all the people. Am I being treated as a scapegoat like this, since I am innocent?
וְכָל־מִ֝שְׁבָּרֶ֗יךָ עִנִּ֥יתָ סֶּֽלָה׃	8b	And you have been afflicting me with all your waves as a means of testing me. Did I anger you, like Jonah, who ran from you? Are you afflicting me, so that I should turn back to you? But I am here calling out to you, like he did before you delivered him from the depths!
הִרְחַ֥קְתָּ מְיֻדָּעַ֗י מִ֫מֶּ֥נִּי	9a	You have caused my acquaintances to shun me, like you did to Job. I am lonely and nobody wants to be near me.
שַׁתַּ֣נִי תוֹעֵב֣וֹת לָ֑מוֹ	9b	You have made me repulsive to them, considered unclean, to be avoided and as good as dead.
כָּ֝לֻ֗א	9c	[You have made me] shut in, so that I cannot get out. Like lepers who are excommunicated and quarantined, I am confined to one place and locked in like Jeremiah, because I am undesirable to everyone.
וְלֹ֣א אֵצֵֽא׃	9d	My eyes have languished from misery, lacking strength, since I have been waiting for too long for you to answer.
עֵינִ֥י דָאֲבָ֗ה מִנִּ֫י עֹ֥נִי	10a	I have been calling to you, YHWH, every day, because I believe that by praying to you, you may save me, like you did Jonah, Job and Jeremiah.
קְרָאתִ֣יךָ יְהוָ֣ה בְּכָל־י֑וֹם	10b	I have been spreading out my hands to you, demonstrating that my hands are empty and opening myself in helplessness. I am helpless!
שִׁטַּ֖חְתִּי אֵלֶ֣יךָ כַפָּֽי׃	10c	Do you perform wonders for the dead? No, you do not! There is no coming back from Sheol. Therefore, it is your last chance to save me.
הֲלַמֵּתִ֥ים תַּעֲשֶׂה־פֶּ֑לֶא	11a	Do the departed spirits rise up to praise you? No, they do not! Only the living praise you. So remember, I am more useful to you alive than dead. When you save, you are praised for that. What a preferable outcome than my death!
אִם־רְ֝פָאִ֗ים יָק֤וּמוּ ׀ יוֹד֬וּךָ סֶּֽלָה׃	11b	Is your faithful love recounted in the tomb? No, it is not!
הַיְסֻפַּ֣ר בַּקֶּ֣בֶר חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ	12a	[Is] your faithfulness [recounted] in the place of destruction? No, it is not! Because there are no wondrous acts of truthfulness carried out in the realm of the dead and no one to confess them in that world, to bring you praise. You can show your faithful love to me now by saving me, but only as long as I am alive. If you do that, I will tell the whole world of it.
אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בָּאֲבַדּֽוֹן׃	12b	Can your wonders be known in the dark region? No, they cannot!
הֲיִוָּדַ֣ע בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ פִּלְאֶ֑ךָ	13a	And [can] your righteousness [be known] in the land of oblivion, namely, Sheol, the inhabitants of which are forgotten by you? No, it cannot! Because there are no wonders to acknowledge there, and therefore no one in that place can be aware of any. Therefore, if you perform a wonder for me by saving me, I will tell the whole world of it so that your righteousness is known.
וְ֝צִדְקָתְךָ֗ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ נְשִׁיָּֽה׃	13b	But I have been crying out to you for help, YHWH, because only you can save those who believe in you, and you will be consequently praised,
וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ אֵלֶ֣יךָ יְהוָ֣ה שִׁוַּ֑עְתִּי	14a	and my prayer will keep welcoming you in the morning, since daybreak is the time when you appear to deliver and since I have not given up yet!
וּ֝בַבֹּ֗קֶר תְּֽפִלָּתִ֥י תְקַדְּמֶֽךָּ׃	14b	Why, YHWH, do you keep rejecting me?
לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תִּזְנַ֣ח נַפְשִׁ֑י	15a	[Why] do you keep hiding your face from me, ignoring me and withdrawing your favors from me? Are you angry at me and punishing me? I am innocent, am I not?
תַּסְתִּ֖יר פָּנֶ֣יךָ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃	15b	I have been afflicted and close to death from [my] youth. I have forgotten what well-being feels like and have been feeling hopeless and lonely for so many years.
עָ֘נִ֤י אֲנִ֣י וְגֹוֵ֣עַ מִנֹּ֑עַר	16a	I’ve been suffering your terrifying assaults. I am terrified and tired of living under constant terror,
נָשָׂ֖אתִי אֵמֶ֣יךָ	16b	and keep being torn apart, consequently, totally without strength.
*אֶפּוֹרָה*׃	16c	Your outbursts of wrath have been sweeping over me. Like Job, I do not know why you are furious with me. Have I unknowingly sinned against you? Or are you testing me like you tested Job?
עָ֭לַי עָבְר֣וּ חֲרוֹנֶ֑יךָ	17a	your terrifying assaults, acting as my enemies, have been destroying me. You appointed them to afflict me the same way you let Satan afflict Job.
בִּ֝עוּתֶ֗יךָ *צִמְּתוּנִי*׃	17b	They have been surrounding me like water constantly just like you did to Jonah—Do you want me to turn back from something like him?—and
סַבּ֣וּנִי כַ֭מַּיִם כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם	18a	they have been closing in on me together, like enemies do. I have no way out. Is this the end? I am totally dependent on your deliverance.
הִקִּ֖יפוּ עָלַ֣י יָֽחַד׃	18b	You have caused all my friends and companions to shun me;
הִרְחַ֣קְתָּ מִ֭מֶּנִּי אֹהֵ֣ב וָרֵ֑עַ	19a	[you have caused] my acquaintances [to shun my] distress, like you did to Job. I am lonely and everyone avoids my presence, because they think my distress is contagious. Will I die as an outcast or will you finally answer me?
מְֽיֻדָּעַ֥י *מֵחֹשֶׁךְ*׃	19b	[you have caused] my acquaintances [to shun my] distress, like you did to Job. I am lonely and everyone avoids my presence, because they think my distress is contagious. Will I die as an outcast or will you finally answer me?*

Participant Tracking Text

Participant Sets by Color

There are 4 participants/characters in Psalm 88:

Psalmist

The psalmist's soul

The psalmist's eye

The psalmist's prayer

YHWH

"God of my salvation" (v. 2)

YHWH's waves

YHWH's outbursts of wrath

YHWH's terrifying assaults

Friends

"Acquaintances" (v. 9)

"Companions" (v. 19)

The dead

"those who go down to the Pit" (v. 5)

"departed spirits" (v. 11)

The slain

• YHWH's outbursts of wrath (חֲמָתֶךָ, חֲרוֹנֶיךָ v. 8a, 17a), YHWH's waves (ָמִ֝שְׁבָּרֶ֗יך v. 8b), YHWH's terrifying assaults (אֵמֶ֣יךָ, בִּ֝עוּתֶ֗יךָ v. 16b, 17b) are taken as YHWH's agents of destruction sent to afflict the psalmist (cf. common-ground assumption for v. 17b in Story Behind the Psalm for a more detailed argumentation). Since their role in the context of the psalm is identical with YHWH's, but they are not identical to him, they are considered related participants.
• The soul (נֶפֶשׁ) is often used as a substitute for a personal pronoun, particularly in poetry (e.g. Psa 11:1; 7:3; cf. comment next on נֶפֶשׁ in Semantics), while the eye (עֶיִן) may be used, like in v. 10a, as a synecdoche for the whole person (e.g. 1Sam 14:27, 29; Gen 27:1; Job 17:7; Ps 6:8; 38:11; cf. common-ground assumption for v. 10a in Story Behind the Psalm and comment on v. 10a in Semantics, esp. Goldingay 2007). Therefore, the psalmist's soul and the psalmist's eye are understood as synonymous participants of the Psalmist.
• In a similar way to YHWH's waves, outbursts of wrath and terrifying assaults, which were taken as YHWH's semi-independent agents and thus as related participants (see box above), we consider the psalmist's prayer as an agent acting on behalf of the psalmist in front of YHWH, as also indicated by virtue of it being the subject of a dynamic verb, and therefore define it as a related participant.
• The friends of the psalmist are not strictly agentive, but are still taken as participants for two reasons. First, they constitute the causee in both causative verbs of v. 9a and v. 19a (הִרְחַקְתָּ, "to make shun") and would therefore be the agents of a corresponding underlying non-causative clause. In this sense, they are similar to YHWH's messengers expounded in the previous paragraph. Second, they are pivotal to the message of the psalm, as their estrangement from the psalmist is a major reason for his misery.
• The slain have an identical function in the psalm to the one of the dead, as the psalmist's situation is compared to both of them. However, being a subset of the larger set of the dead, they are not identical with it. The specific choice of the slain in v. 6b is deliberate and meaningful (cf. common-ground assumption for v. 6b in Story Behind the Psalm for a more detailed argumentation) and they are therefore considered related, not synonymous, participants.