Do Not Hide Your Face From Me

1A Prayer of the afflicted when he is feeble, and before Jehovah poureth out his plaint. O Jehovah, hear my prayer, yea, my cry to Thee cometh.

2Hide not Thou Thy face from me, In a day of mine adversity, Incline unto me Thine ear, In the day I call, haste, answer me.

3For consumed in smoke have been my days, And my bones as a fire-brand have burned.

4Smitten as the herb, and withered, is my heart, For I have forgotten to eat my bread.

5From the voice of my sighing Hath my bone cleaved to my flesh.

6I have been like to a pelican of the wilderness, I have been as an owl of the dry places.

7I have watched, and I am As a bird alone on the roof.

8All the day mine enemies reproached me, Those mad at me have sworn against me.

9Because ashes as bread I have eaten, And my drink with weeping have mingled,

10From Thine indignation and Thy wrath, For Thou hast lifted me up, And dost cast me down.

11My days as a shadow are stretched out, And I -- as the herb I am withered.

12And Thou, O Jehovah, to the age abidest, And Thy memorial to all generations.

13Thou -- Thou risest -- Thou pitiest Zion, For the time to favour her, For the appointed time hath come.

14For Thy servants have been pleased with her stones, And her dust they favour.

15And nations fear the name of Jehovah, And all kings of the earth Thine honour,

16For Jehovah hath builded Zion, He hath been seen in His honour,

17He turned unto the prayer of the destitute, And He hath not despised their prayer.

18This is written for a later generation, And the people created do praise Jah.

19For He hath looked From the high place of His sanctuary. Jehovah from heaven unto earth looked attentively,

20To hear the groan of the prisoner, To loose sons of death,

21To declare in Zion the name of Jehovah, And His praise in Jerusalem,

22In the peoples being gathered together, And the kingdoms -- to serve Jehovah.

23He hath humbled in the way my power, He hath shortened my days.

24I say, 'My God, take me not up in the midst of my days,' Through all generations are Thine years.

25Beforetime the earth Thou didst found, And the work of Thy hands are the heavens.

26They -- They perish, and Thou remainest, And all of them as a garment become old, As clothing Thou changest them, And they are changed.

27And Thou art the same, and Thine years are not finished.

28The sons of Thy servants do continue, And their seed before Thee is established!