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Psalms 88:12

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 88:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Psalms 88:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 88

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9Mine eye wasteth away by reason of affliction: I have called daily upon thee, O Jehovah; I have spread forth my hands unto thee.
10Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? Shall they that are decreased arise and praise thee? Selah
11Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or thy faithfulness in Destruction?
12Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13But unto thee, O Jehovah, have I cried; And in the morning shall my prayer come before thee.
14Jehovah, why castest thou off my soul? Why hidest thou thy face from me?
15I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: While I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
← Psalms 88:11Psalms 88:13 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? - In the dark world; in “the land of darkness and the shadow of death; a land of darkness, as darkness itself, and where the light is as darkness.” Job 10:21-22. “And thy righteousness.” The justice of thy character; or, the ways in which thou dost maintain and manifest thy righteous character. In the land of forgetfulness - Of oblivion; where the memory has decayed, and where the remembrance of former things is blotted out. This is a part of the general description, illustrating the ideas then entertained of the state of the dead; that they would be weak and feeble; that they could see nothing; that even the memory would fail, and the recollection of…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Forgetfulness - In the grave, where men are forgotten by their nearest relations. Psalms 88:13”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“dark: Psa 143:3; Job 10:21, Job 10:22; Isa 8:22; Mat 8:12; Jde 1:13 in the land: Psa 88:5, Psa 31:12; Ecc 2:16, Ecc 8:10, Ecc 9:5 Psalms 88:13”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 88 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification