[1] Lord, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea!
[2] Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you.
[3] For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals.
[4] My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite.
[5] Because of my groaning, I am reduced to skin and bones.
[6] I am like an owl in the desert, like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.
[7] I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.
[8] My enemies taunt me day after day. They mock and curse me.
[9] I eat ashes for food. My tears run down into my drink
[10] because of your anger and wrath. For you have picked me up and thrown me out.
[11] My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass.
[12] But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.
[13] You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem— and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help.
[14] For your people love every stone in her walls and cherish even the dust in her streets.
[15] Then the nations will tremble before the Lord. The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.
[16] For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory.
[17] He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.
[18] Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord.
[19] Tell them the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven
[20] to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die.
[21] And so the Lord’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem,
[22] when multitudes gather together and kingdoms come to worship the Lord.
[23] He broke my strength in midlife, cutting short my days.
[24] But I cried to him, “O my God, who lives forever, don’t take my life while I am so young!
[25] Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.
[26] They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them.
[27] But you are always the same; you will live forever.
[28] The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence.”