Psalm 88 Speech Act

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Among the Dead

Psalm 88

See Full Discourse Layer

Speech Act Analysis

  What is Speech Act Analysis?

The Speech Act layer presents the text in terms of what it does, following the findings of Speech Act Theory. It builds on the recognition that there is more to communication than the exchange of propositions. Speech act analysis is particularly important when communicating cross-culturally, and lack of understanding can lead to serious misunderstandings, since the ways languages and cultures perform speech acts varies widely.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Speech Act Analysis Creator Guidelines.

Summary Visual

Psalm 88/Speech Act/Summary

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Speech Act Chart

The following chart is scrollable (left/right; up/down).

Verse	Hebrew	CBC	Sentence type	Illocution (general)	Illocution with context	Macro speech act	Intended perlocution (Think)	Intended perlocution (Feel)	Intended perlocution (Do)
Verse number and poetic line	Hebrew text	English translation	Declarative, Imperative, or Interrogative Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type	Assertive, Directive, Expressive, Commissive, or Declaratory Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type	More specific illocution type with paraphrased context	Illocutionary intent (i.e. communicative purpose) of larger sections of discourse These align with the "Speech Act Summary" headings	What the speaker intends for the address to think	What the speaker intends for the address to feel	What the speaker intends for the address to do

If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text*	Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text*	Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.

Verse	Text (Hebrew)	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.	Sentence type	Illocution (general)	Illocution with context	Macro speech act		Intended perlocution (Think)	Intended perlocution (Feel)	Intended perlocution (Do)	Speech Act Notes
1a	שִׁ֥יר מִזְמ֗וֹר לִבְנֵ֫י קֹ֥רַח	A song. A psalm. By the sons of Korah.	Superscription
1b	לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־מָחֲלַ֣ת לְעַנּ֑וֹת	For the director. About illness, for self-affliction.
1c	מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְהֵימָ֥ן הָאֶזְרָחִֽי׃	A maskil. By Heman the Ezrahite.
2a	יְ֭הוָה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יְשׁוּעָתִ֑י	YHWH, God of my salvation,	Declarative	Expressive	Insisting that he has fulfilled his part of the covenant.	Accusing God	Lamenting his suffering	YHWH will acknowledge the psalmist's loyalty to him.	YHWH will reciporcate by feeling committed to the psalmist.	YHWH will start acting in favor of the psalmist.
2b	יוֹם־צָעַ֖קְתִּי בַלַּ֣יְלָה נֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃	I have been crying out day and night before you.
3a	תָּב֣וֹא לְ֭פָנֶיךָ תְּפִלָּתִ֑י	May my prayer find favor with you!	Imperative	Directive	Begging YHWH to accept his prayer.			YHWH will think he should listen to the psalmist's suuplication.	YHWH will be willing to listen to the psalmist's supplication.	YHWH will listen to the psalmist's supplication.
3b	הַטֵּֽה־אָ֝זְנְךָ֗ לְרִנָּתִֽי׃	Incline your ear to my cry!	Imperative	Directive	Begging YHWH to accept his prayer.
4a	כִּֽי־שָֽׂבְעָ֣ה בְרָע֣וֹת נַפְשִׁ֑י	For I am weary of troubles,						YHWH will understand why the psalmist is supplicating.	YHWH will feel compassion to the psalmist.	YHWH will intervene by putting an end to the psalmist's troubles.
4b	וְחַיַּ֗י לִשְׁא֥וֹל הִגִּֽיעוּ׃	And my life has reached Sheol.
5a	נֶ֭חְשַׁבְתִּי עִם־י֣וֹרְדֵי ב֑וֹר	I am counted with those who go down to the Pit.	Declarative	Expressive	Lamenting his miserable image in the society.
5b	הָ֝יִ֗יתִי כְּגֶ֣בֶר אֵֽין־אֱיָֽל׃	I have become just like a man who has no strength.	Declarative	Expressive	Lamenting his miserable physical conditions and impotence.
6a	בַּמֵּתִ֗ים חָ֫פְשִׁ֥י	[I am] an outcast among the dead,	Declarative	Expressive	Lamenting his low status among the dead.			YHWH will realize that the psalmist is at the lowest status among the dead.		YHWH will rescue the psalmist from the dead and will prove to him that he has not forgotten him.
6b	כְּמ֤וֹ חֲלָלִ֨ים ׀ שֹׁ֥כְבֵי קֶ֗בֶר	just like the slain ones who are lying in the tomb,
6c	אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹ֣א זְכַרְתָּ֣ם ע֑וֹד	whom you do not remember anymore,
6d	וְ֝הֵ֗מָּה מִיָּדְךָ֥ נִגְזָֽרוּ׃	and [who] have been cut off from your care.
7a	שַׁ֭תַּנִי בְּב֣וֹר תַּחְתִּיּ֑וֹת	You have put me in the lowest pit,	Declarative	Expressive	Accusing YHWH as being responsible for his misery.			YHWH will acknowledge his part in the psalmist's misery	YHWH will feel responsible for the psalmit's misery.	YHWH will stop afflicting the psalmist.
7b	בְּ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים בִּמְצֹלֽוֹת׃	in dark places, in watery depths.
8a	עָ֭לַי סָמְכָ֣ה חֲמָתֶ֑ךָ	Your outbursts of wrath have been lying heavily on me,	Declarative	Expressive	Accusing YHWH as being responsible for his misery.
8b	וְכָל־מִ֝שְׁבָּרֶ֗יךָ עִנִּ֥יתָ סֶּֽלָה׃	and you have been afflicting me with all your waves. Selah.	Declarative	Expressive	Accusing YHWH as being responsible for his misery.
9a	הִרְחַ֥קְתָּ מְיֻדָּעַ֗י מִ֫מֶּ֥נִּי	you have caused my acquaintances to shun me.	Declarative	Expressive	Accusing YHWH as being responsible for his friends' estrangement.			YHWH will acknowledge his part in the psalmist's social isolation and quarantine.	YHWH will feel responsible for the psalmit's social isolation and quarantine.	YHWH will cure the psalmist from his desease.
9b	שַׁתַּ֣נִי תוֹעֵב֣וֹת לָ֑מוֹ	You have made me repulsive to them.	Declarative	Expressive	Accusing YHWH as being responsible for his friends' estrangement.
9c	כָּ֝לֻ֗א	[You have made me] shut in,	Declarative	Expressive	Accusing YHWH as being responsible for his quarantine.
9d	וְלֹ֣א אֵצֵֽא׃	so that I cannot get out.
10a	עֵינִ֥י דָאֲבָ֗ה מִנִּ֫י עֹ֥נִי	My eyes have languished from misery.	Declarative	Expressive	Lamenting his miserable condition.			YHWH will understand why the psalmist is supplicating.	YHWH will feel compassion to the psalmist.	YHWH will intervene by putting an end to the psalmist's misery.
10b	קְרָאתִ֣יךָ יְהוָ֣ה בְּכָל־י֑וֹם	I have been calling to you, YHWH, every day.	Declarative	Expressive	Insisting that he has fulfilled his part of the covenant.			YHWH will acknowledge the psalmist's loyalty to him.	YHWH will reciporcate by feeling committed to the psalmist.	YHWH will finally start acting in favor of the psalmist.
10c	שִׁטַּ֖חְתִּי אֵלֶ֣יךָ כַפָּֽי׃	I have been spreading out my hands to you.	Declarative	Expressive	Insisting that he has fulfilled his part of the covenant.
11a	הֲלַמֵּתִ֥ים תַּעֲשֶׂה־פֶּ֑לֶא	Do you perform wonders for the dead?	Interrogative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH is absent from the Underworld.	Persuading God (Speaking to YHWH's common sense, trying to convince him that saving the psalmist is in his interest).		YHWH will be reminded that keeping the psalmist alive is in his own interest, since only the living can praise God and spread the word of his wonders, faithfulness and righteousness.	YHWH will be determined to save the psalmist.	YHWH will save the psalmist.
11b	אִם־רְ֝פָאִ֗ים יָק֤וּמוּ ׀ יוֹד֬וּךָ סֶּֽלָה׃	Do the departed spirits rise up to praise you? Selah.	Interrogative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH and his faithfulness are neither acknowledged nor praised by the dead.
12a	הַיְסֻפַּ֣ר בַּקֶּ֣בֶר חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ	Is your faithful love recounted in the tomb?	Interrogative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH and his faithfulness are neither acknowledged nor praised by the dead.
12b	אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בָּאֲבַדּֽוֹן׃	[Is] your faithfulness [recounted] in the place of destruction?	Interrogative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH and his faithfulness are neither acknowledged nor praised by the dead.
13a	הֲיִוָּדַ֣ע בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ פִּלְאֶ֑ךָ	Can your wonders be known in the dark region?	Interrogative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH and his faithfulness are neither acknowledged nor praised by the dead.
13b	וְ֝צִדְקָתְךָ֗ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ נְשִׁיָּֽה׃	And [can] your righteousness [be known] in the land of oblivion?	Interrogative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH and his faithfulness are neither acknowledged nor praised by the dead.
14a	וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ אֵלֶ֣יךָ יְהוָ֣ה שִׁוַּ֑עְתִּי	But I have been crying out to you for help, YHWH,	Declarative	Expressive	Committing to fulfill his part of the covenant.	Commiting to fulfill his part of the covenant		YHWH will become aware of the psalmist's unconditional loyalty to him, in spite of his extreme suffering.	YHWH will be astonished by the profound faith of the psalmist.
14b	וּ֝בַבֹּ֗קֶר תְּֽפִלָּתִ֥י תְקַדְּמֶֽךָּ׃	and my prayer will keep welcoming you in the morning.	Declarative	Commissive	Committing to fulfill his part of the covenant.
15a	לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תִּזְנַ֣ח נַפְשִׁ֑י	Why, YHWH, do you keep rejecting me?	Interrogative	Directive	Pleading with YHWH to stop ignoring him.	Accusing God		YHWH will realize the psalmist is worth being saved.	YHWH will be determined to show mercy to the psalmist.	YHWH will stop rejecting the psalmist and show mercy to him.
15b	תַּסְתִּ֖יר פָּנֶ֣יךָ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃	[Why] do you keep hiding your face from me?	Interrogative	Directive	Pleading with YHWH to stop ignoring him.
16a	עָ֘נִ֤י אֲנִ֣י וְגֹוֵ֣עַ מִנֹּ֑עַר	I [have been] afflicted and close to death from [my] youth,	Declarative	Expressive	Lamenting his miserable physical condition.			YHWH will understand why the psalmist is supplicating.	YHWH will feel compassion to the psalmist.	YHWH will intervene by putting an end to the psalmist's misery.
16b	נָשָׂ֖אתִי אֵמֶ֣יךָ	I’ve been suffering your terrifying assaults,	Declarative	Expressive	Accusing YHWH as being responsible for his misery.			YHWH will acknowledge his part in the psalmist's misery	YHWH will feel responsible for the psalmit's misery.	YHWH will stop afflicting the psalmist.	** for emendation see exegetical issue on v. 16b (MT: אָפֽוּנָה)
16c	*אֶפּוֹרָה*׃	and keep being torn apart.	Declarative	Expressive	Lamenting his helplessness.			YHWH will understand how terminal the psalmist's situation is.	YHWH will feel compassion to the psalmist.	YHWH will intervene by putting an end to the psalmist's misery.
17a	עָ֭לַי עָבְר֣וּ חֲרוֹנֶ֑יךָ	Your outbursts of wrath have been sweeping over me;	Declarative	Expressive	Accusing YHWH as being responsible for his misery.			YHWH will acknowledge his part in the psalmist's misery.	YHWH will feel responsible for the psalmit's misery.	YHWH will stop afflicting the psalmist.
17b	בִּ֝עוּתֶ֗יךָ *צִמְּתוּנִי*׃	Your terrifying assaults have been destroying me.	Declarative	Expressive	Accusing YHWH as being responsible for his misery.						** for emendation verse-by-verse note v. 17b (MT: צִמְּתוּתֻֽנִי)
18a	סַבּ֣וּנִי כַ֭מַּיִם כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם	They have been surrounding me like water constantly;	Declarative	Expressive	Accusing YHWH as being responsible for his misery.
18b	הִקִּ֖יפוּ עָלַ֣י יָֽחַד׃	They have been closing in on me together.	Declarative	Expressive	Accusing YHWH as being responsible for his misery.
19a	הִרְחַ֣קְתָּ מִ֭מֶּנִּי אֹהֵ֣ב וָרֵ֑עַ	You have caused all my friends and companions to shun me;	Declarative	Expressive	Accusing YHWH as being responsible for his friends' estrangement.			YHWH will acknowledge his part in the psalmist's social isolation and quarantine.	YHWH will feel responsible for the psalmit's social isolation and quarantine.	YHWH will cure the psalmist from his desease.
19b	מְֽיֻדָּעַ֥י *מֵחֹשֶׁךְ*׃	You have caused my acquaintances to shun my distress.	Declarative	Expressive	Accusing YHWH as being responsible for his friends' estrangement.						** for revocalization see exegetical issue on v. 19b (MT: מַחְשָֽׁךְ)