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¹ A PRAYER OF THE AFFLICTED WHEN HE IS FEEBLE, AND POURS OUT HIS COMPLAINT BEFORE YHWH. O YHWH, hear my prayer, indeed, my cry comes to You.² Do not hide Your face from me, || In a day of my adversity, || Incline Your ear to me, || In the day I call, hurry, answer me.³ For my days have been consumed in smoke, || And my bones have burned as a firebrand.⁴ Struck as the herb, and withered, is my heart, || For I have forgotten to eat my bread.⁵ From the voice of my sighing || My bone has cleaved to my flesh.⁶ I have been like to a pelican of the wilderness, || I have been as an owl of the dry places.⁷ I have watched, and I am || As a bird alone on the roof.⁸ All the day my enemies reproached me, || Those mad at me have sworn against me.⁹ Because I have eaten ashes as bread, || And have mingled my drink with weeping,¹⁰ From Your indignation and Your wrath, || For You have lifted me up, || And cast me down.¹¹ My days [are] stretched out as a shadow, || And I am withered as the herb.

¹² And You, O YHWH, abide for all time, || And Your memorial from generation to generation.¹³ You rise—You pity Zion, || For the time to favor her, || For the appointed time has come.¹⁴ For Your servants have been pleased with her stones, || And they favor her dust.¹⁵ And nations fear the Name of YHWH, || And all kings of the earth Your glory,¹⁶ For YHWH has built Zion, || He has been seen in His glory,¹⁷ He turned to the prayer of the destitute, || And He has not despised their prayer.¹⁸ This is written for a later generation, || And the people created praise YAH.¹⁹ For He has looked || From the high place of His sanctuary. YHWH looked attentively from the heavens to earth,²⁰ To hear the groan of the prisoner, || To loose sons of death,²¹ To declare in Zion the Name of YHWH, || And His praise in Jerusalem,²² In the peoples being gathered together, || And the kingdoms—to serve YHWH.

²³ He has humbled my power in the way, || He has shortened my days.²⁴ I say, "My God, do not take me up in the midst of my days," || Your years [are] through all generations.²⁵ You founded the earth before time, || And the heavens [are] the work of Your hands.²⁶ They perish, and You remain, || And all of them become old as a garment, || You change them as clothing, || And they are changed.²⁷ And You [are] the same, and Your years are not finished.²⁸ The sons of Your servants continue, || And their seed is established before You!