---
title: "Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5"
author: "John Calvin"
translator: "James Anderson"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 108 of 159
url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/108/
cite: "John Calvin, tr. James Anderson, Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5, section 108. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/108/"
---

# Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5

*John Calvin, tr. James Anderson*

Calvin on the Psalms, volume 5 of 5.

## 108. Psalm 88

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/108/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/108/#p-N

[¶0] A Song of a Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician, upon Machalath, to make humble. An instruction of Heman the Ezrahite

[¶1] 1 O Jehovah! God of my salvation! By day I cry, by night before thee.

[¶2] 2 Come into thy presence let my prayer; Incline thy ear to my cry;

[¶3] 3 For filled with troubles is my soul; And my life to hell hath drawn near.

[¶4] 4 I am counted with those who go down to the sepulcher, I have been as a man who hath no strength:

[¶5] 5 Free among the dead, As the slain lying in the grave, Whom thou rememberest no more, And who from thy hand are cut off.

[¶6] 6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, In thick darkness, in the deeps.

[¶7] 7 Upon me lieth heavy thy indignation; And with all thy waves thou hast afflicted me. Selah.

[¶8] 8 Thou hast removed my acquaintances from me: Thou hast made me abominations to them: I am shut up that I cannot go forth.

[¶9] 9 My eye mourneth because of my affliction; I invoke thee, O Jehovah! daily: I stretch out to thee my hands.

[¶10] 10 Wilt thou for the dead do a miracle? Shall the dead rising up praise thee? Selah.

[¶11] 11 Shall thy loving-kindness be declared in the grave? Thy truth in destruction?

[¶12] 12 Shall thy wonders be known in darkness? And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

[¶13] 13 But as for me to thee, O Jehovah! have I cried, And in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee.

[¶14] 14 Wherefore, O Jehovah! wilt thou reject my soul? [Wherefore] wilt thou hide thy face from me?

[¶15] 15 Afflicted am I, and ready to die from my youth; I have suffered thy terrors by doubting.

[¶16] 16 Passed over me hath thy fierce wrath: Thy terrors have cut me off.

[¶17] 17 They have encompassed me as waters daily; They have surrounded me together.

[¶18] 18 Thou hast removed from me lover and companion; And my acquaintances are darkness.