PSALM 88
A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician; set to chant mournfully. A didactic or reflective poem of Heman the Ezrahite.
A prayer containing a grievous complaint Psalm 88.1-18
O Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried to You for help by day; at night I am in Your presence. [Luke 18.7]
2
Let my prayer come before You and really enter into Your presence; incline Your ear to my cry!3
For I am full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol (the place of the dead).
PSALM 89
A Prayer of David.
The psalmist praises God for his care of the church Psalm 89.1-52
I will sing of the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness from generation to generation.
2
For I have said, Mercy and loving-kindness shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness will You establish in the very heavens [unchangeable and perpetuual].11
The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all that is in it, Youu have founded them.12
The north and the south, You have created them; Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon joyously praise Your name.
BOOK IV (PSALMS 90-106)
PSALM 90
A Prayer of Moses the man of God.
Moses prays for the knowledge and sensible experience of God's good providence Psalm 90.1-17
Lord, You have been our dwelling place and our refuge in all generations [says Moses].
2
Before the mountains were brought forth or ever You uhad formed and given birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting Youuu are God.3
You turn man back to dust and corruption, and say, "Return, O sons of the earthborn [to the earth]!"4
For a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. [2Pet 3.8]5
You carry away [these disobedient people, doomed to die within forty years] as with a flood; they are as a sleep [vague and forgotten as soon as they are gone]. In the morning they are like grass which grows up;