[1] Lord, listen to my prayer. Let my cry for help come to you. [2] Do not hide from me in my time of trouble. Pay attention to me. When I cry for help, answer me quickly. [3] My life is passing away like smoke. My bones are burned up with fire. [4] My heart is like grass that has been cut and dried. I forget to eat. [5] Because of my grief, my skin hangs on my bones. [6] I am like a desert owl. I am like an owl living among the ruins. [7] I lie awake. I am like a lonely bird on a housetop. [8] All day long enemies insult me. Those who make fun of me use my name as a curse. [9] I eat ashes as my food. My tears fall into my drinks. [10] Because of your great anger, you have picked me up and thrown me away. [11] My days are like a passing shadow. I am like dried grass. [12] But, Lord, you rule forever. Your fame continues from now on. [13] You will come and have mercy on Jerusalem. The time has now come to be kind to her. [14] Your servants love even her stones. They even care about her dust. [15] Nations will fear the name of the Lord. All the kings on earth will honor him. [16] The Lord will rebuild Jerusalem. There his glory will be seen. [17] He will answer the prayers of the needy. He will not reject their prayers. [18] Write these things for the future. Then people who are not yet born will praise the Lord. [19] The Lord looked down from his holy place above. From heaven he looked down at the earth. [20] He heard the moans of the prisoners. And he freed those sentenced to die. [21] The name of the Lord will be heard in Jerusalem. His praise will be heard in Jerusalem. [22] People will come together. Kingdoms will serve the Lord. [23] God has made me tired of living. He has cut short my life. [24] So I said, "My God, do not take me in the middle of my life. Your years go on and on. [25] In the beginning you made the earth. And your hands made the skies. [26] They will be destroyed, but you will remain. They will all wear out like clothes. And, like clothes, you will change them. And they will be thrown away. [27] But you never change. And your life will never end. [28] Our children will live in your presence. And their children will remain with you."
