A Prayer of the Afflicted and Overwhelmed

Psalms 102:1-11

Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, And let my cry come unto thee.

Hide not thy face from me in the day of my distress: Incline thine ear unto me; In the day when I call answer me speedily.

For my days consume away like smoke, And my bones are burned as a firebrand.

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

By reason of the voice of my groaning My bones cleave to my flesh.

I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste places.

I watch, and am become like a sparrow That is alone upon the house-top.

Mine enemies reproach me all the day; They that are mad against me do curse by me.

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

Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: For thou hast taken me up, and cast me away.

My days are like a shadow that declineth; And I am withered like grass.