Psalms 88: Crying Day and Night

Psalm 88 is a Song, a Psalm by the sons of Korah, and a contemplation by Heman the Ezrahite, as the title says. Heman cries day and night to Yahweh, the God of his salvation. His soul is full of troubles, and he feels near death and far from friends. Yet he keeps praying: In the morning, my prayer comes before you. The psalm ends in darkness, without a happy answer.

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Bible:

Read Psalms 88

World English Bible · 18 verses

¹ A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Suffering of Affliction.” A contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite. Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. Selah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can’t escape.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, Yahweh. I have spread out my hands to you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? Selah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ Yahweh, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Psalms 88 · Preschool

I Pray to God

Name Date

Color the sun and the praying hands. We can pray to God in the morning.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.”

Psalms 88:13 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Even when we feel sad, we can pray to God. Let's fold our hands and say good morning to God.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Psalms 88 · Grade 4

When the Answer Has Not Come

Name Date

Read and Think

The title of Psalm 88 calls it a Song, a Psalm by the sons of Korah, and a contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite. Its tune is called The Suffering of Affliction. Most laments end with praise, but this one does not. It ends with the word darkness.

Heman feels near death. My soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol, the place of the dead. He feels God has put him in the lowest pit, and that his friends have turned away. He asks hard questions: Do you show wonders to the dead? Why do you hide your face from me?

Yet the psalm is still a prayer. It begins, Yahweh, the God of my salvation. Heman calls on God daily, spreads out his hands, and says, In the morning, my prayer comes before you. Even with no answer yet, he keeps talking to God.

Show What You Know

How is Psalm 88 different from most laments?
What is Sheol?
What does Heman still call God at the start?
What does Heman say in the morning?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

prayerdarknessmorningGodsalvation

It ends with the word .
He feels has put him in the lowest pit, and that his friends have turned away.
Yet the psalm is still a .
It begins, Yahweh, the God of my .
Heman calls on God daily, spreads out his hands, and says, In the , my prayer comes before you.

Think About It

Many readers see in this psalm that God welcomes honest prayers in the dark. Why might it help to know the Bible has a psalm that ends sadly?
Who could you talk to, along with God, when you feel very sad?

Memory Verse

“But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.”

Psalms 88:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for hearing me even in the dark. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Heman felt his friends had left him. How can you stay with a friend who is going through a very hard time?
How can you keep talking to God when you feel low?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Psalms 88 · Grade 5

Faith in the Darkness

Name Date

Read and Think

Psalm 88 has one of the longest titles in the Psalter: a Song, a Psalm by the sons of Korah, for the Chief Musician, to the tune of The Suffering of Affliction, a contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite. Nearly every lament turns toward hope by its end, but Psalm 88 closes with the words, my friends into darkness.

Heman describes affliction that has lasted from his youth. He feels counted among those who go down into the pit, like a man who has no help. He feels God's wrath like waves over him. His friends have been taken away. He presses God with questions about death: Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Are your wonders made known in the dark?

The psalm is addressed to God. The first words are, Yahweh, the God of my salvation. Heman's complaint is made to God, not about God behind his back. I have called on you daily, Yahweh. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.

Show What You Know

How does Psalm 88 close?
What questions does Heman press on God?
To whom is the psalm addressed?
What are the last words of the psalm?

Crossword

Across

The God of my ____.
Turn your ear to my ____.

Down

Let my ____ enter into your presence.
Turn your ____ to my cry.
I have cried day and ____ before you.

Think About It

What is the difference between complaining to God and complaining about God?
Some readers say this psalm shows that faith can mean continuing to pray when there is no answer yet. How could this psalm help someone who is going through a long, hard time?

Memory Verse

“But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.”

Psalms 88:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for hearing me even in the dark. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you bring your complaints to God instead of turning away from Him?
How can you help someone who is very sad?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Psalms 88: Crying Day and Night

Read Psalms 88

Worksheets

I Pray to God

Prayer

Take It Home

Morning Prayer

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Keep Praying

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Praying in the Dark

Prayer

Take It Home

Praying When Sad

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

A Prayer in the Dark

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Praying in the Dark

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

When the Answer Has Not Come

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Faith in the Darkness

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options