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A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before Jehovah.

¹ Jehovah, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee.

² Hide not thy face from me: in the day of my trouble, incline thine ear unto me; in the day I call, answer me speedily.

³ For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as a firebrand.

⁴ My heart is smitten and withered like grass; yea, I have forgotten to eat my bread.

⁵ By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to my flesh.

⁶ I am become like the pelican of the wilderness, I am as an owl in desolate places;

⁷ I watch, and am like a sparrow alone upon the housetop.

⁸ Mine enemies reproach me all the day; they that are mad against me swear by me.

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

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

¹¹ My days are like a lengthened-out shadow, and I, I am withered like grass.

¹² But thou, Jehovah, abidest for ever, and thy memorial from generation to generation.

¹³ *Thou* wilt rise up, thou wilt have mercy upon Zion: for it is the time to be gracious to her, for the set time is come.

¹⁴ For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour her dust.

¹⁵ And the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

¹⁶ When Jehovah shall build up Zion, he will appear in his glory.

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

¹⁸ This shall be written for the generation to come; and a people that shall be created shall praise Jah:

¹⁹ For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from the heavens hath Jehovah beheld the earth,

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

²¹ That the name of Jehovah may be declared in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,

²² When the peoples shall be gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve Jehovah.

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

²⁴ I said, My God, take me not away in the midst of my days! … Thy years are from generation to generation.

²⁵ Of old hast thou founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands:

²⁶ *They* shall perish, but *thou* continuest; and all of them shall grow old as a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.

²⁷ But thou art the Same, and thy years shall have no end.

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