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¹ A Prayer of the afflicted, when he fainteth, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.² O LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto Thee.³ Hide not Thy face from me in the day of my distress; ⁴ For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as a hearth.⁵ My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; for I forget to eat my bread.⁶ By reason of the voice of my sighing my bones cleave to my flesh.⁷ I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste places.⁸ I watch, and am become like a sparrow that is alone upon the housetop.⁹ Mine enemies taunt me all the day; they that are mad against me do curse by me.¹⁰ For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,¹¹ Because of Thine indignation and Thy wrath; for Thou hast taken me up, and cast me away.

¹² My days are like a lengthening shadow; and I am withered like grass.¹³ But Thou, O LORD, sittest enthroned for ever; and Thy name is unto all generations.¹⁴ Thou wilt arise, and have compassion upon Zion; for it is time to be gracious unto her, for the appointed time is come.¹⁵ For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and love her dust.¹⁶ So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Thy glory;¹⁷ When the LORD hath built up Zion, when He hath appeared in His glory;¹⁸ When He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, and hath not despised their prayer.¹⁹ This shall be written for the generation to come; and a people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.²⁰ For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;²¹ To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;²² That men may tell of the name of the LORD in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem;

²³ When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.²⁴ He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days.²⁵ I say: 'O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days, Thou whose years endure throughout all generations.²⁶ Of old Thou didst lay the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.²⁷ They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure; ²⁸ But Thou art the selfsame, and Thy years shall have no end.

²⁹ The children of Thy servants shall dwell securely, and their seed shall be established before Thee.'