Psalm 88

Psalm 88 is the 88th psalm from the Book of Psalms. According to the title, it is a "psalm of the sons of Korah" as well as being a "maskil of Heman the Ezrahite".

According to Martin Marty, a professor of church history at the University of Chicago, Psalm 88 is “a wintry landscape of unrelieved bleakness.”

Psalm 88 ends by saying:

You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend. (Psalm 88:18, NIV).

Indeed, in Hebrew, the last word of the Psalm 88 is "darkness".

Uses

Judaism

• Psalm 88 is recited on Hoshana Rabbah.