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¹ A 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.² Hide 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.³ For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.⁴ My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.⁵ By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to my skin.⁶ I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.⁷ I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.⁸ My enemies reproach me all the day; [and] they that are enraged against me are sworn against me.⁹ For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,¹⁰ Because of thy indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.¹¹ My days [are] like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

¹² But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance to all generations.¹³ Thou shalt arise, [and] have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, is come.¹⁴ For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof.¹⁵ So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD: and all the kings of the earth thy glory.¹⁶ When the LORD shall build up Zion, he will appear in his glory.¹⁷ He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.¹⁸ This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.¹⁹ For he hath looked down from the hight of his sanctuary; from heaven hath the LORD beheld the earth;²⁰ To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;²¹ To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;²² When the people are assembled, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

²³ He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.²⁴ I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years [are] throughout all generations.²⁵ Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens [are] the work of thy hands.²⁶ They 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:²⁷ But thou [art] the same, and thy years will have no end.²⁸ The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.