Psalms

¹ A prayer of an afflicted man. When he is faint and pours out his lament before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you.

² when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.

³ my bones burn like glowing embers.

⁴ I forget to eat my food.

⁵ I am reduced to skin and bones.

⁶ like an owl among the ruins.

⁷ like a bird alone on a roof.

⁸ those who rail against me use my name as a curse.

⁹ and mingle my drink with tears

¹⁰ for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.

¹¹ I wither away like grass.

¹² your renown endures through all generations.

¹³ for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.

¹⁴ her very dust moves them to pity.

¹⁵ all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.

¹⁶ and appear in his glory.

¹⁷ he will not despise their plea.

¹⁸ that a people not yet created may praise the Lord:

¹⁹ from heaven he viewed the earth,

²⁰ and release those condemned to death.”

²¹ and his praise in Jerusalem

²² assemble to worship the Lord.

²³ he cut short my days.

²⁴ “Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations.

²⁵ and the heavens are the work of your hands.

²⁶ they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.

²⁷ and your years will never end.

²⁸ their descendants will be established before you.”