'Psalm 88' by John Milton

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Lord God that dost me save and keep,
All day to thee I cry;
And all night long, before thee weep
Before thee prostrate lie.
Into thy presence let my praier
With sighs devout ascend
And to my cries, that ceaseless are,
Thine ear with favour bend.
For cloy'd with woes and trouble store
Surcharg'd my Soul doth lie,
My life at death's uncherful dore
Unto the grave draws nigh.
Reck'n'd I am with them that pass
Down to the dismal pit
I am a *man, but weak alas * Heb. A man without manly
And for that name unfit. strength.
From life discharg'd and parted quite
Among the dead to sleep
And like the slain in bloody fight
That in the grave lie deep.
Whom thou rememberest no more,
Dost never more regard,
Them from thy hand deliver'd o're
Deaths hideous house hath barr'd.
Thou in the lowest pit profound'
Hast set me all forlorn,
Where thickest darkness hovers round,
In horrid deeps to mourn.
Thy wrath from which no shelter saves
Full sore doth press on me;
*Thou break'st upon me all thy waves, *The Heb.
*And all thy waves break me bears both.
Thou dost my friends from me estrange,
And mak'st me odious,
Me to them odious, for they change,
And I here pent up thus.
Through sorrow, and affliction great
Mine eye grows dim and dead,
Lord all the day I thee entreat,
My hands to thee I spread.
Wilt thou do wonders on the dead,
Shall the deceas'd arise
And praise thee from their loathsom bed
With pale and hollow eyes ?
Shall they thy loving kindness tell
On whom the grave hath hold,
Or they who in perdition dwell
Thy faithfulness unfold?
In darkness can thy mighty hand
Or wondrous acts be known,
Thy justice in the gloomy land
Of dark oblivion?
But I to thee O Lord do cry
E're yet my life be spent,
And up to thee my praier doth hie
Each morn, and thee prevent.
Why wilt thou Lord my soul forsake,
And hide thy face from me,
That am already bruis'd, and *shake *Heb. Prae Concussione.
With terror sent from thee;
Bruz'd, and afflicted and so low
As ready to expire,
While I thy terrors undergo
Astonish'd with thine ire.
Thy fierce wrath over me doth flow
Thy threatnings cut me through.
All day they round about me go,
Like waves they me persue.
Lover and friend thou hast remov'd
And sever'd from me far.
They fly me now whom I have lov'd,
And as in darkness are.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Introduction

Psalm 88 by John Milton is a classic poem that is often overlooked in favor of his more famous works such as Paradise Lost. However, this poem deserves more attention as it is a beautiful and powerful piece of literature that explores themes of despair, suffering, and faith. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the meaning and significance of Psalm 88.

Analysis

The poem begins with the speaker expressing his deep despair and anguish:

"O Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and in the night before You. Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry!"

This opening sets the tone for the entire poem. The speaker is in a state of desperation and is crying out to God for help. He feels abandoned and alone, and is seeking comfort and solace in his faith.

As the poem progresses, the speaker continues to express his pain and suffering:

"For my soul has had enough troubles, And my life has drawn near to Sheol. I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a man without strength, Forsaken among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You remember no more, And they are cut off from Your hand."

Here, the speaker is describing the depths of his despair. He feels as though he is already dead and forgotten by God. He is unable to find any hope or comfort in his situation, and is left to suffer alone.

However, despite his despair, the speaker remains faithful to God:

"But I, O Lord, have cried out to You for help, And in the morning my prayer comes before You. O Lord, why do You reject my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me?"

The speaker is questioning why God seems to have abandoned him. He is struggling to understand why he is experiencing such pain and suffering, despite his faith and devotion. However, he remains steadfast in his belief that God will eventually hear his cries and provide comfort and solace.

The poem concludes with the speaker reaffirming his faith in God, despite his current struggles:

"Why, O Lord, do You reject my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me? I was afflicted and about to die from my youth on; I suffer Your terrors; I am overcome. Your burning anger has passed over me; Your terrors have destroyed me. They have surrounded me like water all day long; They have encompassed me altogether. You have removed lover and friend far from me; My acquaintances are in darkness."

Despite all of his suffering, the speaker remains faithful and committed to God. He acknowledges the immense pain and struggle he is experiencing, but he refuses to give up on his faith. He believes that God will eventually hear his cries and provide comfort and solace, even if it is not in this lifetime.

Interpretation

Psalm 88 is a powerful exploration of the human experience of suffering and despair. Through the speaker’s cries of anguish, the poem captures the intense emotions that accompany such experiences. The poem is a reflection of Milton’s own struggles with blindness, poverty, and political turmoil, which left him feeling abandoned and alone.

However, despite these struggles, Milton remained committed to his faith in God. The poem serves as a reminder that, even in the darkest of times, our faith can provide us with hope and comfort. It is a testament to the power of belief and the ways in which it can sustain us even in the face of immense suffering and pain.

Furthermore, the poem highlights the importance of community and social connections. The speaker laments the loss of his friends and loved ones, underscoring the ways in which our relationships with others can provide comfort and support during difficult times.

Finally, the poem speaks to the complex relationship between suffering and faith. While the speaker is committed to his faith, he questions why God has allowed him to suffer so greatly. This tension between belief and doubt is a common theme in religious literature, highlighting the ways in which faith can be both a source of comfort and a source of conflict.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Psalm 88 is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores themes of suffering, faith, and despair. Through the speaker’s cries of anguish and the tension between belief and doubt, the poem captures the complexity of the human experience. It serves as a reminder of the importance of faith, community, and social connections in times of hardship, and highlights the ways in which these things can sustain us even in the darkest of times. Despite being often overlooked, Psalm 88 is a literary gem that deserves more attention and appreciation.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Psalm 88: A Masterpiece of Despair and Faith

John Milton, the renowned English poet, is known for his epic works such as Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. However, his lesser-known work, Psalm 88, is a masterpiece in its own right. This poem is a powerful expression of despair and faith, and it is a testament to Milton's ability to capture the human experience in all its complexity.

The poem is a retelling of Psalm 88 from the Bible, which is known as one of the most depressing psalms in the book. The psalmist cries out to God in despair, feeling abandoned and alone. Milton's version of the psalm is even more intense, as he adds his own personal touch to the already bleak text.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing God directly, saying, "O Lord, my God, my Savior, hear my cry." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker is clearly in distress and is seeking help from God. The speaker then goes on to describe his situation, saying, "My soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave." This line is particularly powerful, as it conveys the speaker's sense of hopelessness and impending doom.

As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes more and more desperate. He cries out to God, saying, "You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths." This line is a reference to the biblical story of Jonah, who was thrown into the sea and swallowed by a great fish. The speaker is comparing his own situation to that of Jonah, feeling as though he has been cast into the depths of despair.

Despite his despair, the speaker never loses faith in God. He continues to cry out to God, saying, "But I cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you." This line is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we can still turn to God for help and comfort.

One of the most powerful lines in the poem comes towards the end, when the speaker says, "You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them." This line is a reminder that even in our darkest moments, we can still feel the pain of rejection and loneliness. The speaker is not only dealing with his own personal struggles, but he is also dealing with the loss of his friends and the feeling of being ostracized from society.

Despite all of this, the speaker never loses faith in God. He continues to cry out to God, saying, "Why, O Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?" This line is a reminder that even when we feel abandoned by God, he is still there with us, listening to our cries and offering us comfort.

In the end, the poem is a powerful expression of the human experience. It captures the pain and despair that we all feel at times, but it also reminds us that even in our darkest moments, we can still turn to God for help and comfort. Milton's version of Psalm 88 is a masterpiece of despair and faith, and it is a testament to his ability to capture the complexity of the human experience in his writing.

In conclusion, Psalm 88 is a powerful poem that speaks to the human experience in all its complexity. It is a reminder that even in our darkest moments, we can still turn to God for help and comfort. Milton's version of the psalm is a masterpiece of despair and faith, and it is a testament to his ability to capture the human experience in his writing.

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