1. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you.
3. For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.
4. My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.
5. Because of my loud groaning I am reduced to skin and bones.
6. I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
7. I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.
8. All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
9. For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears
10. because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11. My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
12. But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.
14. For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity.
15. The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
16. For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.
17. He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.
18. Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
19. "The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth,
20. to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death."
21. So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
22. when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.
23. In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days.
27. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.