Do Not Hide Your Face From Me
1{A Prayer of 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.
2Hide 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.
3For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
4My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
5By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
6I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
7I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
8Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
9For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
10Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
11My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
12But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
13Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
14For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
15So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
17He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
19For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
20To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
21To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
24I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
25Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
28The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Prayer of the Afflicted
1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before Yahweh. Hear my prayer, Yahweh! Let my cry come to you.
2 Don’t hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me. Answer me quickly in the day when I call.
3 For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch.
4 My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
8 My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
10 Because of your indignation and your wrath, for you have taken me up, and thrown me away.
11 My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
12 But you, Yahweh, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations.
13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.
14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.
15 So the nations will fear the name of Yahweh; all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 For Yahweh has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
17 He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
18 This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise Yah.
19 For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth;
20 to hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;
21 that men may declare the name of Yahweh in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.
23 He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
24 I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the midst of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
25 Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.
27 But you are the same. Your years will have no end.
28 The children of your servants will continue. Their seed will be established before you.”
The Prayer of the Afflicted
A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD.
1Hear my prayer, O LORD;
let my cry for help come before You.
2 Do not hide Your face from me
in my day of distress.
Incline Your ear to me;
answer me quickly when I call.
3 For my days vanish like smoke,
and my bones burn like glowing embers.
4 My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass;
I even forget to eat my bread.
5 Through my loud groaning
my flesh clings to my bones.
6 I am like a desert owl,
like an owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake;
I am like a lone bird on a housetop.
8 All day long my enemies taunt me;
they ridicule me and curse me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread
and mixed my drink with tears
10 because of Your indignation and wrath,
for You have picked me up and cast me aside.
11 My days are like lengthening shadows,
and I wither away like grass.
12 But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever;
Your renown endures to all generations.
13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show her favor—
the appointed time has come.
14 For Your servants delight in her stones
and take pity on her dust.
15 So the nations will fear the name of the LORD,
and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.
16 For the LORD will rebuild Zion;
He has appeared in His glory.
17 He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute;
He will not despise their prayer.
18 Let this be written for the generation to come,
so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
19 For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary;
the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth
20 to hear a prisoner’s groaning,
to release those condemned to death,
21 that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion
and praise Him in Jerusalem,
22 when peoples and kingdoms assemble
to serve the LORD.
23 He has broken my strength on the way;
He has cut short my days.
24 I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days!
Your years go on through all generations.
25 In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 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 But You remain the same,
and Your years will never end. a
28 The children of Your servants will dwell securely,
and their descendants will be established before You.”
Footnotes:
27 a Cited in Hebrews 1:10–12
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!
