1 J ehovah, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee.

2 H ide not thy face from me: in the day of my trouble, incline thine ear unto me; in the day I call, answer me speedily.

3 F or my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as a firebrand.

4 M y heart is smitten and withered like grass; yea, I have forgotten to eat my bread.

5 B y reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to my flesh.

6 I am become like the pelican of the wilderness, I am as an owl in desolate places;

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

8 M ine enemies reproach me all the day; they that are mad against me swear by me.

9 F or I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

10 B ecause of thine indignation and thy wrath; for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

11 M y days are like a lengthened-out shadow, and I, I am withered like grass.

12 B ut thou, Jehovah, abidest for ever, and thy memorial from generation to generation.

13 T hou wilt rise up, thou wilt have mercy upon Zion: for it is the time to be gracious to her, for the set time is come.

14 F or thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour her dust.

15 A nd the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

16 W hen Jehovah shall build up Zion, he will appear in his glory.

17 H e will regard the prayer of the destitute one, and not despise their prayer.

18 T his shall be written for the generation to come; and a people that shall be created shall praise Jah:

19 F or he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from the heavens hath Jehovah beheld the earth,

20 T o hear the groaning of the prisoner, to loose those that are appointed to die;

21 T hat the name of Jehovah may be declared in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,

22 W hen the peoples shall be gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve Jehovah.

23 H e weakened my strength in the way, he shortened my days.

24 I said, My God, take me not away in the midst of my days! … Thy years are from generation to generation.

25 O f old hast thou founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands:

26 T hey shall perish, but thou continuest; and all of them shall grow old as a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.

27 B ut thou art the Same, and thy years shall have no end.

28 T he children of thy servants shall abide, and their seed shall be established before thee.