1 I pray to you, Lord!

Please listen.

2 Don't hide from me

in my time of trouble.

Pay attention to my prayer

and quickly give an answer.

3 My days disappear like smoke,

and my bones are burning

as 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 seen

through my skin.

6 I am like a lonely owl

in the desert

7 or a restless sparrow

alone on a roof.

8 My enemies insult me all day,

and they use my name

for a curse word.

9 Instead of food,

I have ashes to eat

and tears to drink,

10 because you are furious

and have thrown me aside.

11 My life fades like a shadow

at the end of day

and withers like grass.

12 Our Lord, you are King forever

and will always be famous.

13 You will show pity to Zion

because the time has come.

14 We, your servants,

love each stone in the city,

and we are sad to see them

lying in the dirt.

15 Our Lord, the nations

will honor you,

and all kings on earth

will praise your glory.

16 You will rebuild

the city of Zion.

Your glory will be seen,

17 and the prayers of the homeless

will be answered.

18 Future generations must also

praise the Lord,

so write this for them:

19 "From his holy temple,

the Lord looked down

at the earth.

20 He listened to the groans

of prisoners,

and he rescued everyone

who was doomed to die."

21 All Jerusalem should praise

you, our Lord,

22 when people from every nation

meet to worship you.

23 I should still be strong,

but you, Lord, have made

an 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 foundation

and created the heavens.

26 They will all disappear

and 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 those

who serve you

will live in your presence.