Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version You have taken from me friend and neighbor— darkness is my closest friend. New Living Translation You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend. English Standard Version You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness. Berean Standard Bible You have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion. King James Bible Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. New King James Version Loved one and friend You have put far from me, And my acquaintances into darkness. New American Standard Bible You have removed lover and friend far from me; My acquaintances are in a hiding place. NASB 1995 You have removed lover and friend far from me; My acquaintances are in darkness. NASB 1977 Thou hast removed lover and friend far from me; My acquaintances are in darkness. Legacy Standard Bible You have removed lover and friend far from me; My acquaintances are in darkness. Amplified Bible Lover and friend You have placed far from me; My familiar friends are in darkness. Christian Standard Bible You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me; darkness is my only friend. Holman Christian Standard Bible You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me; darkness is my only friend. American Standard Version Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, And mine acquaintance into darkness. Contemporary English Version My friends and neighbors have turned against me because of you, and now darkness is my only companion. English Revised Version Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. GOD'S WORD® Translation You have taken my loved ones and friends far away from me. Darkness is my only friend! Good News Translation You have made even my closest friends abandon me, and darkness is my only companion. International Standard Version You caused my friend and neighbor to shun me; and my acquaintances are confused. NET Bible You cause my friends and neighbors to keep their distance; those who know me leave me alone in the darkness. New Heart English Bible You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness. Webster's Bible Translation Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and my acquaintance into darkness. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleYou have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion. World English Bible You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionYou have put lover and friend far from me, "" My acquaintance [is] the place of darkness! Young's Literal Translation Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance is the place of darkness! Smith's Literal Translation Thou didst remove far from me lover and friend, mine acquaintance into darkness. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFriend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Because of you friend and neighbor shun me; my only friend is darkness. New Revised Standard Version You have caused friend and neighbor to shun me; my companions are in darkness. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFriends and neighbors thou hast put far from me, and mine acquaintances thou hast kept away from me. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated You have removed my friends and my neighbors from me and you have caused my acquaintances to depart from me. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Friend and companion hast Thou put far from me, And mine acquaintance into darkness. Brenton Septuagint Translation Thou hast put far from me every friend, and mine acquaintances because of my wretchedness. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Day and Night I Cry Out Before You…17All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side. 18You have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion. Cross References Job 19:13-19 He has removed my brothers from me; my acquaintances have abandoned me. / My kinsmen have failed me, and my friends have forgotten me. / My guests and maidservants count me as a stranger; I am a foreigner in their sight. ... Lamentations 1:2 She weeps aloud in the night, with tears upon her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies. Lamentations 1:16 For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears. For there is no one nearby to comfort me, no one to revive my soul. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed. Jeremiah 9:2 If only I had a traveler’s lodge in the wilderness, I would abandon my people and depart from them, for they are all adulterers, a crowd of faithless people. Micah 7:5-6 Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms. / For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household. Job 6:15-23 But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow, / darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow, / but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat. ... Psalm 31:11 Among all my enemies I am a disgrace, and among my neighbors even more. I am dreaded by my friends—they flee when they see me on the street. Psalm 38:11 My beloved and friends shun my disease, and my kinsmen stand at a distance. Psalm 69:8 I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons, Psalm 142:4 Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul. Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Matthew 26:56 But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled. Mark 14:50 Then everyone deserted Him and fled. John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. / He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. John 7:5 For even His own brothers did not believe in Him. Treasury of Scripture Lover and friend have you put far from me, and my acquaintance into darkness. lover Psalm 88:8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. Psalm 31:11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. Psalm 38:11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. mine acquaintance. Jump to Previous Acquaintance Acquaintances Caused Closest Companion Companions Darkness Ethan Ezrahite Far Friend Friends Lover Maschil Memory Ones Psalm Removed ShunJump to Next Acquaintance Acquaintances Caused Closest Companion Companions Darkness Ethan Ezrahite Far Friend Friends Lover Maschil Memory Ones Psalm Removed ShunPsalm 88 1. A prayer containing a grievous complaint.You have removed my beloved and my friend; This phrase reflects a deep sense of isolation and abandonment. In the context of ancient Israel, relationships with family and friends were central to one's identity and support system. The psalmist's lament here echoes Job's experience, where he felt forsaken by friends and family (Job 19:13-19). The removal of beloved ones can also symbolize a spiritual separation from God, as seen in the broader context of the psalm, which is a cry for help amidst suffering. This can be seen as a type of Christ, who was abandoned by His disciples and felt forsaken on the cross (Matthew 26:56, Matthew 27:46). darkness is my closest companion. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Psalmist (Heman the Ezrahite)The author of Psalm 88, traditionally identified as Heman the Ezrahite, a wise man and a musician in the time of King David. He is known for his deep lament and expression of despair in this psalm. 2. God The psalmist addresses God directly, expressing feelings of abandonment and isolation, attributing his circumstances to God's actions. 3. Beloved and Friend These terms refer to the psalmist's close relationships, which he feels have been severed, leaving him in isolation. 4. Darkness Symbolic of the psalmist's emotional and spiritual state, representing despair, loneliness, and the absence of hope. 5. The Place of Darkness (Sheol) While not explicitly mentioned in this verse, the context of the psalm includes references to Sheol, the realm of the dead, highlighting the depth of the psalmist's despair. Teaching Points The Reality of SufferingSuffering is a real and profound part of the human experience, and the Bible does not shy away from expressing it honestly. The Importance of Lament Lament is a valid and necessary form of prayer, allowing believers to bring their deepest pains and questions before God. God's Presence in Darkness Even when God feels distant, He is present in our darkest moments, and our cries do not go unheard. Community and Isolation The loss of community and friendship can deepen our sense of isolation, reminding us of the importance of supporting one another in times of trial. Hope Beyond Despair While the psalm ends in darkness, the broader biblical account assures us of hope and redemption through Christ. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 88:18?2. How does Psalm 88:18 reflect feelings of isolation in our spiritual journey? 3. What can we learn about God's presence during times of darkness from Psalm 88:18? 4. How does Psalm 88:18 connect with Jesus' experience in Gethsemane? 5. How can Psalm 88:18 guide us in supporting others feeling abandoned? 6. What practical steps can we take when feeling "darkness" as our closest friend? 7. Why does Psalm 88:18 depict God as allowing abandonment and darkness? 8. How does Psalm 88:18 align with the concept of a loving God? 9. What historical context influenced the despair in Psalm 88:18? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 88? 11. Can a Christian be demonically possessed? 12. Why does Psalm 88 present unrelenting despair without any expression of hope, seeming to contradict other passages that emphasize God’s deliverance (Psalm 88:1–3)? 13. What does the Bible say about trusting others? 14. Why does the repeated emphasis on God's wrath in Psalm 88:7 and 88:16 clash with portrayals of divine mercy elsewhere in the Bible? What Does Psalm 88:18 Mean You have removed• The psalmist states plainly that God Himself has acted: “You have removed my friends and neighbors from me” (Psalm 88:18). • Scripture never hides God’s sovereignty, even when it feels painful (Job 1:21; Psalm 44:9; Lamentations 3:17). • This confession is not accusation but an honest acknowledgment that the Lord rules over every relationship. • By admitting God’s hand, the writer keeps praying instead of turning away; he knows the One who wounds is also the One who heals (Hosea 6:1). my beloved • The loss is intimate—those dearest to him are gone. God designed us for close human love (Genesis 2:18, 24), so its removal cuts deeply. • Such separation often accompanies seasons of discipline or testing (Job 19:13; Psalm 31:11), reminding us that no earthly attachment can replace our need for God Himself. • Even when cherished people disappear, the Lord remains the believer’s portion (Psalm 73:26). and my friend • Companions who once offered support now stand at a distance (Psalm 38:11). • Friendship reflects God’s own heart—“A friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17) and Jesus calls His followers “friends” (John 15:13-15). • When earthly friends fail, the psalm points us to the unfailing friendship of Christ, who was also forsaken by His companions (Matthew 26:56). darkness is my closest companion • After every human tie is stripped away, only darkness seems to remain. The word pictures relentless gloom, not a brief cloud. • Scripture often uses darkness to describe judgment (Exodus 10:21), depression (Psalm 143:3-4), and even the hours of Christ’s crucifixion (Matthew 27:45). • Yet darkness cannot shut out God’s presence: “Even the darkness is not dark to You” (Psalm 139:12) and “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). • By voicing this line, the psalmist invites us to bring our own midnight moments to the Lord, trusting that His light will break through in His time. summary Psalm 88:18 portrays a believer who feels utterly isolated—God has removed loved ones, friends have vanished, and darkness presses in as the only companion. The verse teaches that God remains sovereign in loss, that human relationships—precious though they are—must never replace reliance on Him, and that even the deepest night cannot extinguish His light. In Christ we find the ultimate Friend who entered our darkness and will never leave us, assuring us that seasons of abandonment are not the final word for those who trust Him. (18) And mine acquaintance into darkness.--This is an erroneous rendering. Rather, My acquaintance is darkness, or, darkness is my friend, having taken the place of those removed. The feeling resembles Job 17:14; or we may illustrate by Tennyson's lines:--"O sorrow, wilt thou live with me, No casual mistress, but a wife, My bosom friend, and half my life? As I confess it needs must be." Verse 18. - Lover and friend hast thou put far from me (comp. ver. 8 and Job 19:13). And mine acquaintance into darkness; literally, and my intimates [are] darkness; i.e. "when I look for a friend or an acquaintance, my eye meets nothing but darkness," or "dark space."
Hebrew You have removedהִרְחַ֣קְתָּ (hir·ḥaq·tā) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 7368: To be or become far or distant my מִ֭מֶּנִּי (mim·men·nî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of beloved אֹהֵ֣ב (’ō·hêḇ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 157: To have affection f and my friend; וָרֵ֑עַ (wā·rê·a‘) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow darkness מַחְשָֽׁךְ׃ (maḥ·šāḵ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4285: Darkness, a dark place is my closest companion. מְֽיֻדָּעַ֥י (mə·yud·dā·‘ay) Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 3045: To know Links Psalm 88:18 NIVPsalm 88:18 NLT Psalm 88:18 ESV Psalm 88:18 NASB Psalm 88:18 KJV Psalm 88:18 BibleApps.com Psalm 88:18 Biblia Paralela Psalm 88:18 Chinese Bible Psalm 88:18 French Bible Psalm 88:18 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 88:18 You have put lover and friend far (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
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