1 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah! 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 My days have been consumed in smoke, and my bones have been scorched like a hearth.
4 My heart has been stricken like grass and has withered away. In fact 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 All day long my enemies have reproached me. Those who deride me used my name as a curse.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with weeping.
10 This is because of your indignation and your anger. 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 Jehovah, remain forever. Your name is for all generations.
13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion. It is time to be gracious to her for the appointed time has come.
14 Your servants find pleasure in her stones and feel pity for her dust.
15 So the nations will respect the name of Jehovah and all the kings of the earth will honor you.
16 For Jehovah has built up Zion. He has appeared in His glory.
17 He has respected 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 Jehovah.
19 He looked down from his holy height. Jehovah gazed upon the earth from heaven.
20 He heard the groaning of the prisoner, to set free those who were doomed to death.
21 Let men tell of the Jehovahs name in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem,
22 When the peoples and kingdoms are gathered together to serve Jehovah.
23 He has weakened my strength in the way and has shortened my days.
24 I say: »O my God, do not take me away in the middle of my days, your years are throughout all generations.
25 »You founded the earth of old. The heavens are the work of your hands.
26 »They will perish, but you endure. All of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing you will renew them and they will be renewed.
27 »But you are the same. Your years will not come to an end.
28 »The children of your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before you.«