Do Not Hide Your Face From Me

1Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come to you.

2Hide not your face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline your ear to me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

3For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

4My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

5By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones stick to my skin.

6I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.

7I watch, and am as a sparrow alone on the house top.

8My enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

9For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.

10Because of your indignation and your wrath: for you have lifted me up, and cast me down.

11My days are like a shadow that declines; and I am withered like grass.

12But you, O LORD, shall endure for ever; and your remembrance to all generations.

13You shall arise, and have mercy on Zion: for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, is come.

14For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof.

15So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory.

16When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

17He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

18This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

19For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

20To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

21To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

22When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

23He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.

24I said, O my God, take me not away in the middle of my days: your years are throughout all generations.

25Of old have you laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of your hands.

26They shall perish, but you shall endure: yes, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a clothing shall you change them, and they shall be changed:

27But you are the same, and your years shall have no end.

28The children of your servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before you.