1. Lord, hear my prayer!Let my cry reach you!
2. Don’t hide your face from mein my time of trouble!Listen to me!Answer me quickly as I cry out!
3. Because my days disappear like smoke,my bones are burned up as if in an oven;
4. my heart is smashed like dried-up grass.I even forget to eat my food
5. because of my intense groans.My bones are protruding from my skin.
6. I’m like some wild owl—like some screech owl in the desert.
7. I lie awake all night.I’m all alone like a bird on a roof.
8. All day long my enemies make fun of me;those who mock me curse using my name!
9. I’ve been eating ashes instead of bread.I’ve been mixing tears into my drinks
10. because of your anger and wrath,because you picked me up and threw me away.
11. My days are like a shadow soon gone.I’m dried up like dead grass.
12. But you, Lord, rule forever!Your fame lasts from one generation to the next!
13. You will stand up—you’ll have compassion on Zionbecause it is time to have mercy on her—the time set for that has now come!
14. Your servants cherish Zion’s stones;they show mercy even to her dirt.
15. The nations will honor the Lord’s name;all the earth’s rulers will honor your glory
16. because the Lord will rebuild Zion;he will be seen there in his glory.
17. God will turn to the prayer of the impoverished;he won’t despise their prayers.
18. Let this be written down for the next generationso that people not yet created will praise the Lord: