Verses 1-18

This is the saddest and most despairing of all the Pss. The writer is apparently the victim of some incurable disease like leprosy, with which he has been afflicted from his youth (Psalms 88:15), and which cuts him off from the society of men (Psalms 88:8, Psalms 88:18). His life is already a living death (Psalms 88:3-6), and beyond death he has no hope (Psalms 88:10-12). He traces his trouble to God's displeasure (Psalms 88:7, Psalms 88:14, Psalms 88:16), yet it is to God that he turns in pathetic appeal for relief (Psalms 88:1-2, Psalms 88:9, Psalms 88:13). Nothing is known as to his identity, or as to the date of the Ps.

Title.—Mahalath] see on Psalms 53. Leannoth] may mean 'for singing.' Heman] see 1 Kings 4:31.

3. The grave] RV 'Sheol,' the under-world of the dead.

4 Strength] RV 'help.'

5. Free] RV 'cast off.'

6. Pit.. darkness (RV 'dark places').. deeps] expressions for Sheol.

9. Mourneth] RV 'wasteth away.'

11. In destruction] RV 'in Destruction.' The Heb. is Abaddon, used as a proper name for Sheol: see Job 26:6; Job 28:22; Job 31:12; Proverbs 15:11; Proverbs 27:20; Revelation 9:11.

13. Prevent] RV 'come before.

17. Daily] RV 'all the day long.'