| 1 | A prayer of an afflicted man. When he is faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you. | |
| 2 | Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. | |
| 3 | For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. | |
| 4 | My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. | |
| 5 | Because of my loud groaning I am reduced to skin and bones. | |
| 6 | I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. | |
| 7 | I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. | |
| 8 | All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. | |
| 9 | For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears | |
| 10 | because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside. | |
| 11 | My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. | |
| 12 | But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. | |
| 13 | You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. | |
| 14 | For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity. | |
| 15 | The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. | |
| 16 | For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. | |
| 17 | He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. | |
| 18 | Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD: | |
| 19 | "The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, | |
| 20 | to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death." | |
| 21 | So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem | |
| 22 | when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD. | |
| 23 | In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days. | |
| 24 | So I said: "Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations. | |
| 25 | In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. | |
| 26 | They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. | |
| 27 | But you remain the same, and your years will never end. | |
| 28 | The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you." | |