[1] Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for help.
[2] Lord, don’t turn away from me when I have troubles. Listen to me. When I cry for help, quickly answer me.
[3] My life is passing away like smoke. My life is like a fire slowly burning out.
[4] My strength is gone— I am like dry, dying grass. I even forget to eat my food.
[5] Because of my sadness, I am losing weight.
[6] I am lonely like an owl living in the desert. I am alone like an owl living in old ruined buildings.
[7] I can’t sleep. I am like a lonely bird on a roof.
[8] My enemies always insult me. They make fun of me and curse me.
[9] My great sadness is my only food. My tears fall into my drinks.
[10] Why? Because you are angry at me, Lord. You lifted me up and then you threw me away.
[11] My life is almost finished, like the long shadows at the end of the day. I am like dry and dying grass.
[12] But Lord, you will live forever! Your name will continue forever and ever!
[13] You will rise and comfort Zion. The time is coming when you will be kind to Zion.
[14] Your servants love her ˻(Zion's)˼ stones. They love even the dust of that city!
[15] People will worship the Lord’s name. God, all the kings on earth will honor you.
[16] The Lord will build Zion again. People will again see her glory.
[17] God will answer the prayers of the people he left alive. God will listen to their prayers.
[18] Write these things for the future generation. And in the future, those people will praise the Lord.
[19] The Lord will look down from his Holy Place above. The Lord will look down at the earth from heaven.
[20] And he will hear the prisoner’s prayers. He will free the people who were condemned to die.
[21] Then people in Zion will tell about the Lord. They will praise his name in Jerusalem.
[22] Nations will be gathered together. Kingdoms will come to serve the Lord.
[23] My strength failed me. My life is cut short.
[24] So I said, “Don’t let me die while I am still young. God, you will live forever and ever!
[25] Long ago, you made the world. You made the sky with your own hands!
[26] The world and sky will end, but you will live forever! They will wear out like clothes. And, like clothes, you will change them. They will all be changed.
[27] But you, God, never change. You will live forever!
[28] We are your servants ˻today˼. Our children will live here. And even their descendants will be here to worship you.