In My Distress (120)
`Hear my / prayer~, LORD!
`Let my cry_ / come to you.
`Do not hide your face from me_ in the day of / my distress.
`Turn your / ear to me. • `Answer me_ quickly in the day_ / when I call.
`For my days consume a / way like smoke.
My `bones are burned_ / as a torch.
My `heart is blighted like_ / grass, and withered,
`I even forget to / eat my bread.
(Ref)
Be `cause_ of the sound_ / of my groaning,
my `bones stick / to my skin.
`I am like a pelican_ of the / wilderness.
`I have become as an owl a / mong the ruins.
`I_ / stay awake,
and `have become_ like a sparrow that_ is alone_ / on the roof.
My `enemies reproach me / all~ day.
`Those_ who deride me use my name_ / as a curse.
For `I have eaten ashes / like~ bread,
and `mixed my / drink with tears,
be `cause of your_ indignation / and your wrath;
for `you have taken me_ up and thrown_ / me away.
(Ref)
My `days are like a / long~ shadow.
`I have withered / like~ grass.
But `you, O LORD_, will re / main forever;
`your renown endures to all_ / generations.
`You_ will arise_ and have mercy / on~ Zion,
for `it is time_ to have pity on her. The appointed / time has come.
`For your servants take_ pleasure / in her stones,
`and have pity / on her dust.
`So the nations will_ fear the name_ / of the LORD,
`all the kings_ of the earth_ / your~ glory.
`For the LORD has / built up Zion.
`He_ has appeared_ / in his glory.
(Ref)
`He_ has responded to the prayer_ of the / destitute.
`He has not despised_ / their~ prayer.
`This_ will be written for the generation / to~ come.
A `people yet to be created will_ / praise the LORD,
`for he has looked down_ from the height_ of his / sanctuary.
From `heaven, the_ LORD_ / saw the earth,
to `hear the groans_ of the / prisoner,
to `free_ those who are con / demned to death,
`that they may declare the name_ of the / LORD in Zion,
`and his praise_ in Je / rusalem,
`when the peoples are gathered to / ge~ ther,
the `kingdoms, to_ / serve the LORD.
(Ref)
`He has broken my_ strength in / mid~ course.
He `shortened / my~ days.
I `said, “My God, do not take me away_ in the middle / of my days.
`Your_ years are throughout all_ / generations.
Of `old, you laid the foun_ dation / of the earth.
The `heavens are the work_ / of your hands.
`They will perish, but you / will endure.
`All of them will wear out / like a garment.
`You will change them like a cloak, and they_ / will be changed.
But `you_ are the same. Your years will / have no end.
The `children of your servants will_ / dwell securely.
Their `offspring will_ be established be_ / fore~ you.”