prayer of the afflicted, when he is
overwhelmed and pours out his
complaint before the LORD.

1O LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to You.

2Hide not Your face from me in the day of my trouble; incline Your ear to me; in the day I call, answer me quickly,

3For my days go up like smoke, and my bones scorch like a firebrand.

4My heart is stricken, and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread.

5Because of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to my flesh.

6I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert.

7I watch, and am like a sparrow alone upon the housetop.

8All the day my enemies revile me; in their rage against me, they make a curse of me;

9For I have eaten ashes like bread, and have mixed my drink with weeping

10Because of Your anger and Your wrath; for You have lifted me up and cast me down.

11My days are like a shadow stretched out, and I wither like grass.

12But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; and Your name is unto all generations.

13You shall arise and have mercy upon Zion, for it is time to be gracious to her; yea, the appointed time has come,

14For Your servants take pleasure in her stones and favor her dust.

15So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Your glory.

16When the LORD shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory.

17He will regard the prayer of the destitute and not despise their prayer.

18This shall be written for the generation to come; and a people who shall be created shall praise the LORD,

19For He has looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven the LORD beheld the earth

20To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to set free those who are appointed to death

21That men may declare the name of the LORD in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem

22When the people and the kingdoms have gathered together to serve the LORD.

23He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days.

24I said, "O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days; Your years endure throughout all generations.

25Of old You have laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

26They shall perish, but You shall endure; yea, all of them shall become old like a garment; like a vesture You shall change them, and they shall be changed;

27But You remain the same, and Your years shall have no end.

28The children of Your servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before You."