Long ago You established the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

This will be written for a later generation,
and a newly created people will praise the Lord:

A prayer of an afflicted person who is weak and pours out his lament before the Lord.Lord, hear my prayer;
let my cry for help come before You.

They will perish, but You will endure;
all of them will wear out like clothing.
You will change them like a garment,
and they will pass away.

You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her—
the appointed time has come.

But You are the same,
and Your years will never end.

But You, Lord, are enthroned forever;
Your fame endures to all generations.

for the Lord will rebuild Zion;
He will appear in His glory.

I say: “My God, do not take me
in the middle of my life!
Your years continue through all generations.

He looked down from His holy heights—
the Lord gazed out from heaven to earth—

He will pay attention to the prayer of the destitute
and will not despise their prayer.

I am like a desert owl,
like an owl among the ruins.

For my days vanish like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.

Do not hide Your face from me in my day of trouble.
Listen closely to me;
answer me quickly when I call.

I stay awake;
I am like a solitary bird on a roof.

Then the nations will fear the name of Yahweh,
and all the kings of the earth Your glory,

My days are like a lengthening shadow,
and I wither away like grass.

Your servants’ children will dwell securely,
and their offspring will be established before You.”

For Your servants take delight in its stones
and favor its dust.

to hear a prisoner’s groaning,
to set free those condemned to die,

Because of the sound of my groaning,
my flesh sticks to my bones.

so that they might declare
the name of Yahweh in Zion
and His praise in Jerusalem,

He has broken my strength in midcourse;
He has shortened my days.

My heart is afflicted, withered like grass;
I even forget to eat my food.

My enemies taunt me all day long;
they ridicule and curse me.

because of Your indignation and wrath;
for You have picked me up and thrown me aside.

when peoples and kingdoms are assembled
to serve the Lord.

I eat ashes like bread
and mingle my drinks with tears