[1] Hear my prayer, O LORD! And let my cry for help come to You.
[2] Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress; Incline Your ear to me; In the day when I call answer me quickly.
[3] For my days have been consumed in smoke, And my bones have been scorched like a hearth.
[4] My heart has been smitten like grass and has withered away, Indeed, I forget to eat my bread.
[5] Because of the loudness of my groaning My bones cling to my flesh.
[6] I resemble a pelican of the wilderness; I have become like an owl of the waste places.
[7] I lie awake, I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop.
[8] My enemies have reproached me all day long; Those who deride me have used my name as a curse.
[9] For I have eaten ashes like bread And mingled my drink with weeping
[10] Because of Your indignation and Your wrath, For You have lifted me up and cast me away.
[11] My days are like a lengthened shadow, And I wither away like grass.
[12] But You, O LORD, abide forever, And Your name to all generations.
[13] You will arise and have compassion on Zion; For it is time to be gracious to her, For the appointed time has come.
[14] Surely Your servants find pleasure in her stones And feel pity for her dust.
[15] So the nations will fear the name of the LORD And all the kings of the earth Your glory.
[16] For the LORD has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory.
[17] He has regarded the prayer of the destitute And has not despised their prayer.
[18] This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.
[19] For He looked down from His holy height; From heaven the LORD gazed upon the earth,
[20] To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To set free those who were doomed to death,
[21] That men may tell of the name of the LORD in Zion And His praise in Jerusalem,
[22] When the peoples are gathered together, And the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
[23] He has weakened my strength in the way; He has shortened my days.
[24] I say, “O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days, Your years are throughout all generations.
[25] Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
[26] Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.
[27] But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.
[28] The children of Your servants will continue, And their descendants will be established before You.”