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¹ A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and pours out his complaint before Yahweh. Hear my prayer, O Yahweh, And let my cry come to you.² Don't hide your face from me in the day of my distress: Incline your ear to me; In the day when I call answer me speedily.³ For my days consume away in smoke, And my bones are burned as a firebrand.⁴ My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; For I forget to eat my bread.⁵ By reason of the voice of my groaning My bones cleave to my flesh.⁶ I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I have become as an owl of the waste places.⁷ I watch, and have become like a sparrow That is alone on the house-top.⁸ My enemies reproach me all the day; Those that are insane against me curse by me.⁹ For I have eaten ashes like bread, And mingled my drink with weeping,¹⁰ Because of your indignation and your wrath: For you have taken me up, and cast me away.¹¹ My days are like a shadow that declines; And I am withered like grass.

¹² But you, O Yahweh, will abide forever; And your memorial [name] to all generations.¹³ You will arise, and have mercy on Zion; For it is time to have pity on her, Yes, the set time has come.¹⁴ For your slaves take pleasure in her stones, And have pity on her dust.¹⁵ So the nations shall fear the name of Yahweh, And all the kings of the earth your glory.¹⁶ For Yahweh has built up Zion; He has appeared in his glory.¹⁷ He has regarded the prayer of the destitute, And has not despised their prayer.¹⁸ This shall be written for the generation to come; And a people which shall be created shall praise Yah.¹⁹ For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary; From heaven Yahweh looked at the earth;²⁰ To hear the sighing of the prisoner; To loose those that are appointed to death;²¹ That men may declare the name of Yahweh in Zion, And his praise in Jerusalem;²² When the peoples are gathered together, And the kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.

²³ He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days.²⁴ I said, O my God, don't take me away in the midst of my days: Your years are throughout all generations.²⁵ Of old did you lay the foundation of the earth; And the heavens are the work of your hands.²⁶ They shall perish, but you shall endure; Yes, all of them shall wax old like a garment; As a vesture you shall change them, and they shall be changed:²⁷ But you are the same, And your years shall have no end.²⁸ The sons of your slaves shall continue, And their seed shall be established before you.