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Answer key (separate)‹ Back to chapter 88

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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.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Psalms 88 · Kindergarten

Morning Prayer

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace each word with your pencil.

PRAY
DAY
NIGHT
MORNING
But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.

Psalms 88:13 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each word to its picture.

PRAY
MORNING
NIGHT
HEART

Mini Maze

Help find the way through the maze.

Draw It

Draw yourself praying at night.

Prayer

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

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • When can we pray?
  • How did Heman feel?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Psalms 88 · Grade 1

Keep Praying

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace the words and the verse.

PRAY
CRY
SAD
MORNING
But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.

Psalms 88:13 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each sentence to its picture.

I cry to you at night.
I pray in the morning.
Let my prayer come to you.
My soul is full of trouble.
I spread my hands to you.

Praying in the Dark

Write the number 1 to 4 in each circle to show the right order.

My prayer comes before you

You have put lover and friend far from me

I have cried day and night before you

I have spread out my hands to you

Draw yourself praying at night.

Memory Verse

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

Psalms 88:13 (WEB)

Prayer

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

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • What did Heman keep doing?
  • How can you pray when you cry?
  • What would you like to say to God about this chapter?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Psalms 88 · Grade 2

Praying When Sad

Name Date

Read the Story

Heman was very sad. He had many troubles. He felt alone. His friends were far away.

But Heman kept praying. He prayed day and night. He said, In the morning, my prayer comes before you.

Memory Verse

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

Psalms 88:13 (WEB)

Show What You Know

Circle the right answer, or write it on the lines.

  1. How did Heman feel?

    Very sadTroublesDay and night

  2. What did he have many of?

    Far awayVery sadTroubles

  3. Where were his friends?

    TroublesFar awayVery sad

  4. When did Heman pray?

    Far awayTroublesDay and night

  5. What did Heman say about the morning?

Word Search

Find and circle each word. Words go across and down.

ADARKNESSMPRAYERNFMWLNMOHLDNIGHTHSTKSALVATIONSMORNINGLEARSWNAMTJCRYAAVBYWGDFUGGTD
  • SALVATION
  • DARKNESS
  • MORNING
  • PRAYER
  • NIGHT
  • CRY
  • EAR

Prayer

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

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Who can you go to when you feel down?
  • What did Heman spread out to God?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Psalms 88 · Grade 3

A Prayer in the Dark

Name Date

Read the Story

The title of Psalm 88 calls it a Song and a Psalm by the sons of Korah. The title also calls it a contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite. He says, Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.

Heman says, My soul is full of troubles. He feels like he is in a deep, dark pit. His friends have gone away. My eyes are dim from grief.

Still he prays. I have called on you daily, Yahweh. I have spread out my hands to you. But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you. The psalm ends sadly, but Heman never stops praying.

Memory Verse

“Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.”

Psalms 88:2 (WEB)

Answer the Questions

  1. Who does the title name?

  2. When did Heman cry before God?

  3. What is his soul full of?

  4. What are his eyes dim from?

  5. When does his prayer come before God?

Praying in the Dark

Write what happened in each box.

1
2
3
4

Word Search

Find each word. Words go across, down, and diagonally.

SYWPRAYERDAMCRYDADJALOEOVROWSRVRVURWWBJKANWMFORPRNTISVSDVONEINFOYVTOPSOGHNIGHTNSN
  • SALVATION
  • DARKNESS
  • MORNING
  • PRAYER
  • NIGHT
  • CRY
  • EAR

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 is this psalm different from most psalms?
  • What is Sheol?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

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

  1. How is Psalm 88 different from most laments?

  2. What is Sheol?

  3. What does Heman still call God at the start?

  4. What does Heman say in the morning?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

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

Think About It

  1. 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?

  2. 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?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

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

  1. How does Psalm 88 close?

  2. What questions does Heman press on God?

  3. To whom is the psalm addressed?

  4. What are the last words of the psalm?

Crossword

41352

Across

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

Down

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

Think About It

  1. What is the difference between complaining to God and complaining about God?

  2. 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?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.