Psalms 102:1-17

Hear my prayer, O LORD, And let my cry for help come to You! Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline Your ear to me; In the day when I call, answer me quickly. For my days have vanished in smoke, And my bones have been scorched like a hearth. My heart has been struck like grass and withered, Indeed, [absorbed by my heartache] I forget to eat my food. Because of the sound of my groaning [in suffering and trouble] My bones cling to my flesh. I am like a [mournful] vulture of the wilderness; I am like a [desolate] owl of the wasteland. I am sleepless and lie awake [mourning], I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop. ¶My enemies taunt me all day long; Those who ridicule me use my name as a curse. For I have eaten ashes like bread, And have mingled my drink with tears [Is 44:20] Because of Your indignation and Your wrath, For You have lifted me up and thrown me away. My days are like an evening shadow that lengthens and vanishes [with the sun]; And as for me, I wither away like grass. ¶But You, O LORD, are enthroned forever [ruling eternally as sovereign]; And [the fame and glory of] Your name [endures] to all generations. You will arise and have compassion on Zion, For it is time to be gracious and show favor to her; Yes, the appointed time [the moment designated] has come. [Ps 12:5; 119:126] For Your servants find [melancholy] pleasure in the stones [of her ruins] And feel pity for her dust. So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, And all the kings of the earth [will recognize] Your glory. [Ps 96:9] For the LORD has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory and brilliance; He has regarded the prayer of the destitute, And has not despised their prayer.