✧A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, LORD! Let my cry come to you. ✧2Don’t hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me. Answer me quickly in the day when I call. ✧3For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch. ✧4My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread. ✧5By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin. ✧6I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places. ✧7I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop. ✧8My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse. ✧9For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears, ✧10because of your indignation and your wrath; for you have taken me up and thrown me away. ✧11My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass. ✧12But you, LORD, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations. ✧13You will arise and have mercy on Zion, for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come. ✧14For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust. ✧15So the nations will fear the LORD’s name, all the kings of the earth your glory. ✧16For the LORD has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory. ✧17He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer. ✧18This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise the LORD, ✧19for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, the LORD saw the earth, ✧20to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death, ✧21that men may declare the LORD’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem, ✧22when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. ✧23He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days. ✧24I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are throughout all generations. ✧25Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands. ✧26They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed. ✧27But you are the same. Your years will have no end. ✧28The children of your servants will continue. Their offspring will be established before you.”