1 H ear my prayer, O Lord! Let my cry for help come to You.

2 D o not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble. Turn Your ear to me. Hurry to answer me in the day when I call.

3 F or my days go up in smoke. And my bones are burned as with fire.

4 M y heart is crushed and dried like grass. And I forget to eat my food.

5 I am nothing but skin and bones because of my loud cries.

6 I am like a pelican in the desert. I am like an owl of the waste places.

7 I lie awake. And I feel like a bird alone on the roof.

8 T hose who hate me have made it hard for me all day long. Those who are angry with me curse my name.

9 F or I have eaten ashes like bread and have mixed my drink with tears,

10 b ecause of Your great anger. For You have lifted me up and thrown me away.

11 M y days are like the evening shadow. I dried up like grass.

12 B ut You and Your name, O Lord, will always be forever and to all people for all time.

13 Y ou will rise up and have loving-pity on Zion. For it is time to show favor to her. The set time has come.

14 F or Your servants respect her stones and show pity for her dust.

15 T he nations will fear the name of the Lord. All the kings of the earth will fear Your shining-greatness.

16 F or the Lord has built up Zion. He will come in His shining-greatness.

17 H e will answer the prayer of those in need. He will not turn from their prayer.

18 T his will be written for the children-to-come. So a people not yet born may give thanks to the Lord.

19 F or He looked down from His holy place. He watched the earth from heaven,

20 t o hear the loud cries of those in prison and to set free those who are being sent to death.

21 S o the name of the Lord will be made known in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem,

22 w hen the people gather together and the nations gather to serve the Lord.

23 H e has taken away my strength. He has taken days from my life.

24 I said, “O my God, do not take me away when my days are only half done. Your years go on to all people of all time.

25 Y ou made the earth in the beginning. You made the heavens with Your hands.

26 T hey will be destroyed but You will always live. They will all become old as clothing becomes old. You will change them like a coat. And they will be changed,

27 b ut You are always the same. Your years will never end.

28 T he children of those who work for You will live on. And their children will be set before You.”