God’s Word Translation
Psalms 88:18
18You have taken my loved ones and friends far away from me. Darkness is my only friend!
Psalms 88:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
- New International Version (NIV)You have taken from me friend and neighbor— darkness is my closest friend.
- English Standard Version (ESV)You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Loved one and friend You have put far from me, And my acquaintances into darkness.
Context of Psalms 88:18
16Your burning anger has swept over me. Your terrors have destroyed me. 17They swirl around me all day long like water. They surround me on all sides. You have taken my loved ones and friends far away from me. Darkness is my only friend!
Read all of Psalms 88Psalms 88:18 word by word
הִרְחַ֣קְתָּ מִ֭מֶּנִּי אֹהֵ֣ב וָרֵ֑עַ מְֽיֻדָּעַ֥י מַחְשָֽׁךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 88:18
- Psalms 88:8You have taken my friends far away from me. You made me disgusting to them. I’m shut in, and I can’t get out.
- Psalms 31:11I have become a disgrace because of all my opponents. I have become someone dreaded by my friends, even by my neighbors. Those who see me on the street run away from me.
- Psalms 38:11My loved ones and my friends keep their distance and my relatives stand far away because of my sickness.
- Job 19:12His troops assemble against me. They build a ramp to attack me and camp around my tent.
Commentaries on Psalms 88:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Lover and friend - I have no comfort, and neither friend nor neiphbour to sympathize with me. Mine acquaintance into darkness - All have forsaken me; or מחשך מידעי meyuddai machsach, "Darkness is my companion." Perhaps he may refer to the death of his acquaintances; all were gone; there was none left to console him! That man has a dismal lot who has outlived all his old friends and acquaintances; well may such complain. In the removal of their friends…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Lover and friend hast thou put far from me - That is, Thou hast so afflicted me that they have forsaken me. Those who professed to love me, and whom I loved - those whom I regarded as my friends, and who seemed to be my friends - are now wholly turned away from me, and I am left to suffer alone. See the notes at Psalm 88:8. And mine acquaintance into darkness - The Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate render this, “my acquaintance from my misery.” Luther…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-18Verses 10-18 Departed souls may declare God's faithfulness, justice, and lovingkindness; but deceased bodies can neither receive God's favours in comfort, nor return them in praise. The psalmist resolved to continue in prayer, and the more so, because deliverance did not come speedily. Though our prayers are not soon answered, yet we must not give over praying. The greater our troubles, the more earnest and serious we should be in prayer. Nothing grieves…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18The psalmist restates his second and first charges.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. into darkness--Better omit "into"--"mine acquaintances (are) darkness," the gloom of death, &c. (Job 17:13, 14).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 88:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 88
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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