Psalms

¹ God, listen! Listen to my prayer, listen to the pain in my cries.

² just when I need you so desperately. Pay attention! This is a cry for help! And hurry—this can't wait!

³ I'm burning up with fever.

⁴ half-consumed already by terminal illness.

⁵ I'm nothing but skin and bones.

⁶ a crow perched on the rubble.

⁷ mournful as a sparrow in the gutter.

⁸ while others just curse.

⁹ I draw drink from a barrel of my tears.

¹⁰ you swept me up and threw me out.

¹¹ a withered weed, swept clean from the path.

¹² always and ever sovereign.

¹³ it's time for compassionate help.

¹⁴ and weep with compassion over its dust!

¹⁵ —see your glory, worship your name—

¹⁶ when he shows up in all his glory,

¹⁷ He won't dismiss their prayer.

¹⁸ so people not yet born will praise God:

¹⁹ from heaven he surveyed the earth.

²⁰ he opened the doors of their death cells."

²¹ so God's praise will be sung in Jerusalem's streets

²² along with their rulers to worship him.

²³ he cut me down in my prime.

²⁴ You have more years than you know what to do with!

²⁵ and handcrafted the very heavens;

²⁶ threadbare and discarded like an old suit of clothes. You'll throw them away like a worn-out coat,

²⁷ but year after year you're as good as new.

²⁸ and their children will be at home with you."