A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the LORD
102
📚✭Hear my prayer, O LORD,and let my cry come to you.
2 📚Do not hide your face
from me in the day
I am in trouble,
but bow down
your ear to me.
In the day I call, answer me speedily.
3 📚For my days are consumed
like smoke,
and my bones are burned
like a hearth.
4 📚My heart is beaten down
and withered like grass,
so that I forget to eat my bread.
5 📚Because of the sound
of my groaning my
bones cling to my skin.
6 📚✭I am like a pelican
of the wilderness.
I am like an owl of the desert.
7 📚I lie awake, and am like
a sparrow alone
on the housetop.
8 📚My enemies taunt me
all day long,
and those who act like
madmen against me swear
an oath against me.
9 📚✭For I have eaten ashes
like bread,
and mixed my drink with
weeping✭,
10 📚✭Because of your indignation
and your wrath.
For you have lifted me up
and thrown me down.
11 📚✭My days are like
a lengthening shadow,
and I am withered like grass✭.
12 📚✭But you, O LORD,
will remain forever,
and the remembrance
of you to all generations.
13 📚You will arise and
have mercy on Zion,
for the time to favour her,
yes, the set time, has come.
14 📚✭For your servants take
pleasure in her stones,
and favour to its dust.
15 📚So the nations will fear the name of the LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 📚For the LORD will build Zion;
he will appear in his glory.
17 📚He will have regard for
the prayer of the destitute,
and will not despise their prayer.
18 📚This will be written
for the generation
to come;
and the people who are yet to be
created will praise the LORD.
19 📚For he looked down
from the height of his
sanctuary;
from heaven the LORD saw
the earth,
20 📚To hear the groaning
of the prisoner,
to free those who are dying,
21 📚✭To declare the name
of the LORD in Zion,
and his praise in Jerusalem,
22 📚When the peoples and
the kingdoms are gathered
together to serve the LORD.
23 📚He brought down my strength
in the way;
he shortened my days.
24 📚✭I said, “O my God,
do not take me away
in the midst of my days;
your years are throughout
all generations.
25 📚✭Of old you laid the foundation
of the earth,
and the heavens are
the work of your hands.
26 📚✭They will perish, but
you will remain;
yes, all of them will become
old like a garment;
like a cloak you will change
them,
and they will be changed.
27 📚But you are
the same,
and your years will have no end.
28 📚✭The children of your servants
will continue,
and their offspring will be
established before you”.