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 unto thee.

<>A Prayer of the afflicted, <>Hear my prayer, O LORD, <>let my cry come unto thee

2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

<>Hide not thy face from me, <>when I call answer me

3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

<>my bones are burned

4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

<>My heart is … withered like grass

5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

<>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.

<>I … am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.

8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

<>thy wrath, <>thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down

11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

<>My days are like a shadow that declineth

12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.

<>thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever

13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

<>vv. 13-14

14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

<>vv. 13-14, <>thy servants

15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

<>fear the name of the LORD

16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

<>he shall appear

17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

<>despise

18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

<>v. 18, <>This shall be written, <>people which shall be created

19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

<>vv. 19-22

20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

<>vv. 19-22, <>to loose those that are appointed to death

21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

<>vv. 19-22

22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

<>vv. 19-22, <>the people are gathered together, <>serve the LORD

23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.

<>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.

<>take me not away in the midst of my days

25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

<>vv. 25-26, <>laid the foundation, <>foundation

26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

<>vv. 25-26, <>vesture, <>they shall be changed

27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

<>thou art the same, <>thy years shall have no end

28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

<>children