The prayer of an afflicted person who feels like a lonely bird on a rooftop, and who cries to God to hear him. Though his days vanish like smoke, the LORD endures forever, and he will respond to the prayer of the destitute.
1 A Prayer of the afflicted , when he is overwhelmed , and poureth out his complaint before the LORD . Hear my prayer , O LORD , and let my cry come unto thee.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble ; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily .
3 For my days are consumed like smoke , and my bones are burned as an hearth .
4 My heart is smitten , and withered like grass ; so that I forget to eat my bread .
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin .
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness : I am like an owl of the desert .
7 I watch , and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top .
8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day ; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread , and mingled my drink with weeping ,
10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath : for thou hast lifted me up , and cast me down .
11 My days are like a shadow that declineth ; and I am withered like grass .
12 But thou, O LORD , shalt endure for ever ; and thy remembrance unto all generations .
13 Thou shalt arise , and have mercy upon Zion : for the time to favour her, yea, the set time , is come .
14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones , and favour the dust thereof.
15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD , and all the kings of the earth thy glory .
16 When the LORD shall build up Zion , he shall appear in his glory .
17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute , and not despise their prayer .
18 This shall be written for the generation to come : and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD .
19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary ; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth ;
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner ; to loose those that are appointed to death ;
21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion , and his praise in Jerusalem ;
22 When the people are gathered together , and the kingdoms , to serve the LORD .
23 He weakened my strength in the way ; he shortened my days .
24 I said , O my God , take me not away in the midst of my days : thy years are throughout all generations .
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth : and the heavens are the work of thy hands .
26 They shall perish , but thou shalt endure : yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment ; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed :
27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end .
28 The children of thy servants shall continue , and their seed shall be established before thee.