A Prayer of an afflicted person, who feels overwhelmed, and pours out his complaint before the LORD.

1Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto You. 2Do not hide Your face from me in my time of trouble; incline Your ear to me; in this day when I call out to You, please answer me speedily. 3For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones are burned like hot coal on the hearth. 4My heart is broken, and withered like grass, so that I even forget to eat. 5Because of my anguish, I am reduced to skin and bones. 6I am like an owl in a desolate place in the desert. 7I lie awake, like a sparrow alone upon the house top. 8My enemies taunt me all day long, curse and ridicule me. 9For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears, 10Because of Your indignation and Your wrath; for You have lifted me up, and thrown me down. 11My days pass like an evening shadow that declines; and I wither away like grass.

12But You, O LORD, shall reign forever; and Your renown shall endure unto all generations. 13You shall arise, and have mercy upon Zion; for the set time to show her compassion has come. 14For Your servants love every stone of her walls, and cherish even her dust. 15The nations shall revere the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth acknowledge Your glory. 16When the LORD shall rebuild Jerusalem, He shall appear in His glory. 17He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their pleas. 18Let this be written for the generations to come; so that a people not yet created shall praise the LORD. 19For He has looked down from His sanctuary on high; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth, 20To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to rescue those that are condemned to death; 21That the name of the LORD is proclaimed in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem, 22When the people and the kingdoms of earth are gathered together, to serve the LORD.

23In the course of my life, He has weakened my strength; He has shortened my days. 24I said, “O my God, do not take me away in the middle of my days.” Your years go on throughout all generations. 25In the beginning, You laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26They will perish, but You shall endure; yea, all of them shall become worn like an old garment; like clothing You shall change them, and they will be discarded. 27But You remain the same, and Your years shall have no end. 28The children of Your servants shall continue in Your presence, and their descendants shall be established before You.