Bible/Psalms/88

Psalms 88:1

A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: for the sons: or, of the sons Maschil: or, A Psalm of Heman the Ezrahite, giving instruction

KJV

Save image

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.

O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:

O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you:

88:2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;

What does Psalms 88:1 mean?

Psalms 88:1 is a verse in the book of Psalms, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שִׁיר (shîyr), מִזְמוֹר (mizmôwr), בֵּן (bên).

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
A
Songשִׁירshîyr/sheer/H7892a song; abstractly, singing
or
Psalmמִזְמוֹרmizmôwr/miz-more'/H4210properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
for
the
sonsבֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
of
Korah,קֹרַחQôrach/ko'rakh/H7141Korach, the name of two Edomites and three Israelites
to
the
chief
Musicianנָצַחnâtsach/naw-tsakh'/H5329properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
upon
Mahalathמַחֲלַתmachălath/makh-al-ath'/H4257'Machalath', probably the title (initial word) of a popular song
Leannoth,עָנָהʻânâh/aw-naw'/H6031to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows)
Maschilמַשְׂכִּילmaskîyl/mas-keel'/H4905instructive, i.e. a didactic poem
of
HemanהֵימָןHêymân/hay-mawn'/H1968Heman, the name of at least two Israelites
the
Ezrahite.אֶזְרָחִיʼEzrâchîy/ez-raw-khee'/H250an Ezrachite or descendant of Zerach
O
LORDיְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Godאֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym/el-o-heem'/H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
of
my
salvation,יְשׁוּעָהyᵉshûwʻâh/yesh-oo'-aw/H3444something saved, i.e. (abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity
I
have
criedצָעַקtsâʻaq/tsaw-ak'/H6817to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly)
dayיוֹםyôwm/yome/H3117a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
and
nightלַיִלlayil/lah'-yil/H3915properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
before
thee:
for
the
sons:
or,
of
the
sons
Maschil:
or,
A
Psalm
of
Heman
the
Ezrahite,
giving
instruction

Topics

PrayerPrayer, Private

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Psalms 88:1.

Psalms 45:1

To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Maschil: or, of instruction is inditing: Heb. boileth, or, bubbleth up

Psalms 42:1

To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Maschil: or, A Psalm giving instruction of the sons, etc panteth: Heb. brayeth

Psalms 44:1

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

Psalms 46:1

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. for: or, of

Psalms 47:1

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. for: or, of

Psalms 48:1

A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. for: or, of

Psalms 49:1

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: for: or, of

Psalms 53:1

To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

Frequently asked questions

What does Psalms 88:1 say?

Psalms 88:1 (King James Version) reads: "A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: for the sons: or, of the sons Maschil: or, A Psalm of Heman the Ezrahite, giving instruction"

Is Psalms 88:1 in the Old or New Testament?

Psalms 88:1 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Psalms.

Reflect

As you read Psalms 88:1, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Psalms 88:1 →
Read all of Psalms 8888:2 →