The Prayer of the Afflicted 1 ULT Hear my prayer, Yahweh; let my cry come unto you. BSB BSB: A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You.
2 ULT Do not hide your face from me on the day it distresses me. Incline your ear to me. On the day I call out, hurry, answer me. BSB BSB: Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.
3 ULT For my days expire like smoke, and my bones are charred like a fireplace. BSB BSB: For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
4 ULT My heart is struck like grass and withered, for I have forgotten to eat my bread. BSB BSB: My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.
5 ULT From the voice of my groaning, my bone clings to my flesh. BSB BSB: Through my loud groaning my skin hangs on my bones.
6 ULT I am like an owl of the wilderness; I have become like a screech owl in the ruins. BSB BSB: I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
7 ULT I am alert, and I have become like a bird alone on a roof. BSB BSB: I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.
8 ULT My enemies taunt me all the day; those mocking me swear by me. BSB BSB: All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me.
9 ULT As ashes as bread I eat, and I mix my drink with weeping BSB BSB: For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears
10 ULT from the face of your fury and rage, for you have lifted me up and thrown me. BSB BSB: because of Your indignation and wrath, for You have picked me up and cast me aside.
11 ULT My days{ are} like a lengthening shadow, and I, like grass, have withered. BSB BSB: My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass.
12 ULT But you, Yahweh, sit forever, and your remembrance{ is} to generation and generation. BSB BSB: But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures to all generations.
13 ULT You, you will arise, you will have mercy on Zion; for{ it is} the time to favor her; for the appointed time has come. BSB BSB: You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor—the appointed time has come.
14 ULT For your servants cherish her stones and favor her dust. BSB BSB: For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust.
15 ULT The nations will fear the name of Yahweh, and all the kings of the earth, your glory. BSB BSB: So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.
16 ULT For Yahweh builds Zion; he appears in his glory. BSB BSB: For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.
17 ULT He turns to the prayer of the destitute and he does not despise their prayer. BSB BSB: He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.
18 ULT This will be written for a future generation, and a people being created will praise Yah; BSB BSB: Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
19 ULT that he looked down from the height of his holiness; Yahweh from heaven regarded the earth, BSB BSB: For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary; the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth
20 ULT to hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release the sons of execution. BSB BSB: to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death,
21 ULT To recount the name of Yahweh in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem BSB BSB: that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion and praise Him in Jerusalem,
22 ULT when peoples and kingdoms gather together to serve Yahweh. BSB BSB: when peoples and kingdoms assemble to serve the LORD.
23 ULT He has broken my strength on the road. He has shortened my days. BSB BSB: He has broken my strength on the way; He has cut short my days.
24 ULT I said,“My God, do not take me away in the middle of my days; your years{ are} a generation of generations. BSB BSB: I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days! Your years go on through all generations.
26 ULT They, they will perish, but you, you will stand, and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing, you will pass them off, and they will pass away. BSB BSB: They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on.
27 ULT But you{ are} he, and your years will not end. BSB BSB: But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.
28 ULT The sons of your servants will abide, and their seed will be established to your face.” BSB BSB: The children of Your servants will dwell securely, and their descendants will be established before You.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.