Prayer of an Afflicted Man for Mercy on Himself and on Zion.

A Prayer of the afflicted when he is weak and [a]pours out his complaint before the LORD.

1Hear my prayer, LORD!

And let my cry for help come to You.

2Do not hide Your face from me on the day of my distress;

Incline Your ear to me;

On the day when I call answer me quickly.

3For my days have ended in smoke,

And my bones have been scorched like a hearth.

4My heart has been struck like [b]grass and has withered,

Indeed, I forget to eat my bread.

5Because of the [c]loudness of my groaning

My bones [d]cling to my flesh.

6I resemble a pelican of the wilderness;

I have become like an owl of the ruins.

7I lie awake,

I have become like a solitary bird on a housetop.

8My enemies have taunted me all day long;

Those who [e]deride me [f]have used my name as a curse.

9For I have eaten ashes like bread,

And mixed my drink with weeping

10Because of Your indignation and Your wrath;

For You have lifted me up and thrown me away.

11My days are like a [g]lengthened shadow,

And [h]I wither away like [i]grass.

12But You, LORD, [j]remain forever,

And Your [k]name remains to all generations.

13You will arise and have compassion on Zion;

For it is time to be gracious to her,

For the appointed time has come.

14Surely Your servants [l]take pleasure in her stones,

And feel pity for her dust.

15[m]So the [n]nations will fear the name of the LORD,

And all the kings of the earth, Your glory.

16For the LORD has built up Zion;

He has appeared in His glory.

17He has turned His attention to the prayer of the [o]destitute

And has not despised their prayer.

18[p]This will be written for the generation to come,

[q]That a people yet to be created [r]may praise [s]the LORD:

19For He looked down from His holy height;

From heaven the LORD looked [t]upon the earth,

20To hear the groaning of the prisoner,

To set free [u]those who were doomed to death,

21So that people may tell of the name of the LORD in Zion,

And His praise in Jerusalem,

22When the peoples are gathered together,

And the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

23He has broken my strength in the way;

He has shortened my days.

24I say, “My God, do not take me away in the middle of my days,

Your years are [v]throughout all generations.

25“In time of old You founded the earth,

And the heavens are the work of Your hands.

26“[w]Even they will perish, but You endure;

All of them will wear out like a garment;

Like clothing You will change them and they will pass away.

27“But You are [x]the same,

And Your years will not come to an end.

28“The children of Your servants will continue,

And their [y]descendants will be established before You.”