Bible Time

¹HEAR my prayer, oh Yahvah, and let my cry come to you. ²Do not turn your face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily. ³For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are whitened as if they were burned. ⁴My heart is struck and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread. ⁵Because of the voice of my groaning, my bones cling to my skin. ⁶I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert. ⁷I am shaken and alone like a sparrow on the house tops. ⁸My enemies disgrace me all the day; those who once praised me are now sworn against me. ⁹I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, ¹⁰Because of your indignation and your wrath; for you have lifted me up, and cast me down. ¹¹My days are like a shadow that declines; and I am withered like grass.

¹²But you, oh Yahvah, will endure forever, and your remembrance to all generations. ¹³Arise and have mercy on Zion; for it is time to have mercy on her. ¹⁴For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor its dust. ¹⁵So the heathen will worship the name of Yahvah, and all the kings of the earth your glory. ¹⁶When Yahvah builds up Zion, he will appear in his glory. ¹⁷He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. ¹⁸This will be written for the generation to come; and the people who will be created will praise Yahvah. ¹⁹For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven Yahvah saw the earth, ²⁰To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to loose those who are appointed to death, ²¹To declare the name of Yahvah in Zion and his praises in Jerusalem, ²²When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve Yahvah.

²³For they have weakened my strength on earth; they warned me of the shortage of my days. ²⁴Oh my God, do not take me away in the middle of my days; your years are throughout all generations. ²⁵Of old you have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of your hands. ²⁶They will perish, but you will endure; yes, all of them will wax old like a garment; as a vesture, they will fade. ²⁷But you are the same, and your years will have no end. ²⁸The children of your servants will continue and their descendants will be established before you.