1 H ear my prayer, Yahweh! Let my cry come to you.

Hear my prayer, O Lord! Let my cry for help come to You.

2 D on’t hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me. Answer me quickly in the day when I call.

Do 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 consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch.

For my days go up in smoke. And my bones are burned as with fire.

4 M y heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.

My heart is crushed and dried like grass. And I forget to eat my food.

5 B y reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.

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

6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.

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

7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.

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

8 M y enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.

Those 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 mixed my drink with tears,

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

10 B ecause of your indignation and your wrath, for you have taken me up, and thrown me away.

because of Your great anger. For You have lifted me up and thrown me away.

11 M y days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.

My days are like the evening shadow. I dried up like grass.

12 B ut you, Yahweh, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations.

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

13 Y ou will arise and have mercy on Zion; for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.

You 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 take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.

For Your servants respect her stones and show pity for her dust.

15 S o the nations will fear Yahweh’s name; all the kings of the earth your glory.

The nations will fear the name of the Lord. All the kings of the earth will fear Your shining-greatness.

16 F or Yahweh has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.

For the Lord has built up Zion. He will come in His shining-greatness.

17 H e has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.

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

18 T his will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise Yah.

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

19 F or he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth;

For He looked down from His holy place. He watched the earth from heaven,

20 t o hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;

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

21 t hat men may declare Yahweh’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

So the name of the Lord will be made known in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem,

22 w hen the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.

when the people gather together and the nations gather to serve the Lord.

23 H e weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.

He has taken away my strength. He has taken days from my life.

24 I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.

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 O f old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.

You made the earth in the beginning. You made the heavens with Your hands.

26 T hey will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.

They 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 the same. Your years will have no end.

but You are always the same. Your years will never end.

28 T he children of your servants will continue. Their offspring will be established before you.”

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