1Hear my prayer , O LORD , and let my cry come unto thee. 2Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble ; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily .
The Depth of Despair
3For my days are consumed like smoke , and my bones are burned as an hearth . 4My heart is smitten , and withered like grass ; so that I forget to eat my bread . 5By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin . 6I am like a pelican of the wilderness : I am like an owl of the desert . 7I watch , and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top . 8Mine enemies reproach me all the day ; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me. 9For I have eaten ashes like bread , and mingled my drink with weeping , 10Because of thine indignation and thy wrath : for thou hast lifted me up , and cast me down . 11My days are like a shadow that declineth ; and I am withered like grass .
God's Eternal Nature
12But thou, O LORD , shalt endure for ever ; and thy remembrance unto all generations . 13Thou shalt arise , and have mercy upon Zion : for the time to favour her, yea, the set time , is come . 14For thy servants take pleasure in her stones , and favour the dust thereof. 15So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD , and all the kings of the earth thy glory . 16When the LORD shall build up Zion , he shall appear in his glory . 17He will regard the prayer of the destitute , and not despise their prayer .
A Promise of Restoration
18This shall be written for the generation to come : and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD . 19For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary ; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth ; 20To hear the groaning of the prisoner ; to loose those that are appointed to death ; 21To declare the name of the LORD in Zion , and his praise in Jerusalem ; 22When the people are gathered together , and the kingdoms , to serve the LORD .
The Sovereignty of God
23He weakened my strength in the way ; he shortened my days . 24I said , O my God , take me not away in the midst of my days : thy years are throughout all generations . 25Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth : and the heavens are the work of thy hands . 26They shall perish , but thou shalt endure : yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment ; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed : 27But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end . 28The children of thy servants shall continue , and their seed shall be established before thee.