| 1 ¶ A Prayer of1 the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
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| 2 Hide 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.
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| 3 For my days are consumed like2 smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
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| 4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
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| 5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.3
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| 6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
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| 7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
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| 8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
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| 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
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| 10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
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| 11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
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| 12 ¶ But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
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| 13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
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| 14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
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| 15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
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| 16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
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| 17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
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| 18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
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| 19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
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| 20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those4 that are appointed to death;
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| 21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
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| 22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
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| 23 ¶ He weakened5 my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
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| 24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
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| 25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
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| 26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure:6 yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
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| 27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
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| 28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.
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