Psalm 87 – Domine, Deus salutis

A prayer of one under grievous affliction: it agrees to Christ in his passion, and alludes to his death and burial.

1 A canticle of a psalm for the sons of Core: unto the end, for Maheleth, to answer understanding of Eman the Ezrahite. 2 O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the day, and in the night before thee. 3 Let my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my petition. 4 For my soul is filled with evils: and my life hath drawn nigh to hell. 5 I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a man without help,

6 Free among the dead. Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cast off from thy hand. 7 They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death. 8 Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in upon me. 9 Thou hast put away my acquaintance far from me: they have set me an abomination to themselves. I was delivered up, and came not forth: 10 My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee.

11 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee? 12 Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth in destruction? 13 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the land of forgetfulness? 14 But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee. 15 Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy face from me?

16 I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have been humbled and troubled. 17 Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me. 18 They have come round about me like water all the day: they have compassed me about together. 19 Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery.

Commentary

[1] “Maheleth”: A musical instrument, or chorus of musicians, to answer one another.– Ibid.

[1] “Understanding”: Or a psalm of instruction, composed by Eman the Ezrahite, or by David, in his name.