A Prayer of the afflicted, when he faints, and pours out his complaint before the Lord.

A prayer for the poor one [(Israel in exile)], enwrapped [in woe], and before the L rd pouring out his plaint.

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry reach Thee.

O L rd, hear my prayer, and let my outcry come to You.

Hide not Thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline Thy ear to me: in the day when I call, answer me speedily.

Do not conceal Your face from me. On the day of my distress incline Your ear to me. Quickly, answer me.

For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned like a hearth.

For my [happy] days have ended as with smoke, and my bones are dried up as the hearth.

My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; so that I forget how to eat my bread.

Smitten as the grass and dried up is my heart, for I have forgotten [in my affliction] to eat my bread.

By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to my skin.

With the sound of my sighing, my bones have cleaved to my flesh.

I am like an owl of the wilderness: I am like a night flier of the desert.

[(In banishment to exile)] I have become like the k'ath [(a wailing bird)] of the desert; I have become like the koss [a bird] of the wasteland.

I watch, and am like a lonely sparrow upon the house top.

I have contemplated myself; I have become like a lone bird on a roof.

My enemies insult me all the day; and they that are mad against me swear by me.

My foes have shamed me all the day; my mockers have sworn by me [(as a byword for affliction)].

For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

For I have eaten dust as bread, and I have mixed my drink with tears.

because of Thy indignation and Thy wrath: for Thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

Because of Your scorn and Your wrath; for You lifted me [to the heavens] and You cast me down [to the earth].

My days are like an evening shadow; and I am withered like grass.

My days are like a lengthening [and disappearing] shadow, and I am withered as the grass.

But Thou, O Lord, sittest enthroned forever; and Thy name endures to all generations.

But You, O L rd, who endure forever, and Your remembrance for all generations, [(and who swore by Yourself to preserve us)] —

Thou wilt arise, and have mercy upon Żiyyon: for it is time to favour her; for the set time is come.

Rise! Have pity upon Zion. For it is time to grace it; for the season has arrived [viz. Deuteronomy 32:36].

For Thy servants hold her stones dear, and cherish her very dust.

For Your servants have desired [(even)] her stones, and her dust has found favor with them.

So the nations shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth Thy glory.

Then, [(when You save Your people)] the nations will fear the name of the L rd, and all the kings of the earth, Your glory.

For the Lord builds up Żiyyon, he appears in his glory.

When [they see that] the L rd has built Zion [and] appeared [there] in His glory.

He heeds the prayer of the destitute, and does not despise their prayer.

He has turned to the prayer of the crier [i.e., he who has cried out], and He did not despise their prayer.

This shall be written for the generation to come: so that a people yet unborn shall praise the Lord.

[(Thus will say the seers of the salvation:)] Let this [salvation] be inscribed for the last generation, and let the [newly] created people [(those who have emerged from darkness to light)] praise the L rd.

For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth;

For He has looked from the heights of His holiness; the L rd has looked down from heaven to earth [(to see the affliction of His people)].

to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those who are appointed to death;

To hear the groans of the bound; to undo the bonds of [His] dying sons.

that men may declare the name of Lord in Żiyyon, and his praise in Yerushalayim;

So that the name of the L rd be told in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem.

when the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

When peoples gather together, and kingdoms to serve the L rd.

He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.

[(reversion to verse 11)] He [the foe] has straitened my strength in the way [i.e., in exile]; he has shortened my days.

I say, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: Thou whose years endure to all generations.

I say [to the L rd: You are] my G d. Do not remove me [from the world] in the half of my days, [(our "days" being)] all the generations of Your years [(see verse 13 and verse 39)].

Of old Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.

You founded the earth of yore; the heavens are the work of Your hands.

They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall grow old like a garment; Thou shalt change them like a cloak, and they will pass away:

They [(heaven and earth)] will go lost and You shall remain. They will all rot as a garment. You will change them as [one changes his] clothing, and they will be changed.

but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall have no end.

But You are He [(who endures always)], and Your years will never end.

The children of Thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before Thee.

The sons of Your servants [(the patriarchs)] will dwell [in the land]; and their seed will be [eternally] established before You.