[1] LORD, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for help. [2] Don't turn away from me when I have troubles. Listen to me, and answer me quickly when I cry for help. [3] My life is passing away like smoke. My life is like a fire slowly burning out. [4] My strength is gone- I am like dry, dying grass. I even forget to eat. [5] Because of my sadness, I am losing so much weight that my skin hangs from my bones. [6] I am lonely, like an owl living in the desert, like an owl living among old ruined buildings. [7] I cannot sleep. I am like a lonely bird on the roof. [8] My enemies insult me all the time. They make fun of me and use me as an example in their curses. [9] My great sadness is my only food. My tears fall into my drink. [10] You were angry with me, so you picked me up and threw me away. [11] My life is almost finished, like the long shadows at the end of the day. I am like dry and dying grass. [12] But you, LORD, will rule as king forever! Your name will continue forever and ever! [13] You will rise up and comfort Zion. The time has come for you to be kind to Zion. [14] Your servants love her stones. They love even the dust of that city! [15] The nations will worship the LORD's name. All the kings on earth will honor you. [16] The LORD will rebuild Zion, and people will again see her glory. [17] He will listen to the prayers of those in poverty. He will not ignore them. [18] Write these things for future generations, so that they will praise the LORD. [19] The LORD will look down from his Holy Place above. He will look down at the earth from heaven. [20] And he will hear the prisoner's prayers. He will free those who were condemned to die. [21] Then people in Zion will tell about the LORD. They will praise his name in Jerusalem [22] when nations gather together and kingdoms come to serve the LORD. [23] My strength failed me. My life is cut short. [24] So I said, "Don't let me die while I am still young. God, you will live forever and ever! [25] Long ago, you made the world. You made the sky with your own hands! [26] The earth and sky will end, but you will live forever! They will wear out like clothes, and like clothes, you will change them. [27] But you never change. You will live forever! [28] We are your servants today. Our children will live here, and their descendants will come here to worship you."
