Do Not Hide Your Face From Me

1A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come to thee.

2Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thy 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 cleave 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 upon the house top.

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

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

10Because of thy indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

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

12But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance to all generations.

13Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, is come.

14For thy 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 thy glory.

16When the LORD shall build up Zion, he will 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 hath looked down from the hight of his sanctuary; from heaven hath the LORD beheld 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 assembled, 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 midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.

25Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

26They shall perish, but thou wilt endure: yes, all of them shall grow old like a garment; as a vesture wilt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

27But thou art the same, and thy years will have no end.

28The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.