1 I pray to you, Lord!Please listen.
2 Don't hide from mein my time of trouble.Pay attention to my prayerand quickly give an answer.
3 My days disappear like smoke,and my bones are burningas though in a furnace.
4 I am wasting away like grass,and my appetite is gone.
5 My groaning never stops,and my bones can be seenthrough my skin.
6 I am like a lonely owlin the desert
7 or a restless sparrowalone on a roof.
8 My enemies insult me all day,and they use my namefor a curse word.
9 Instead of food,I have ashes to eatand tears to drink,
10 because you are furiousand have thrown me aside.
11 My life fades like a shadowat the end of dayand withers like grass.
12 Our Lord, you are King foreverand will always be famous.
13 You will show pity to Zionbecause the time has come.
14 We, your servants,love each stone in the city,and we are sad to see themlying in the dirt.
15 Our Lord, the nationswill honor you,and all kings on earthwill praise your glory.
16 You will rebuildthe city of Zion.Your glory will be seen,
17 and the prayers of the homelesswill be answered.
18 Future generations must alsopraise the Lord,so write this for them:
19 “From his holy temple,the Lord looked downat the earth.
20 He listened to the groansof prisoners,and he rescued everyonewho was doomed to die.”
21 All Jerusalem should praiseyou, our Lord,
22 when people from every nationmeet to worship you.
23 I should still be strong,but you, Lord, have madean old person of me.
24 You will live forever!Years mean nothing to you.Don't cut my life in half!
25 In the beginning, Lord,you laid the earth's foundationand created the heavens.
26 They will all disappearand wear out like clothes.You change them,as you would a coat,but you last forever.
27 You are always the same.You are God for all time.
28 Every generation of thosewho serve youwill live in your presence.