4 My heart within me smitten is,
and it is withered

Like very grass; so that I do
forget to eat my bread.

5 By reason of my groaning voice,
my bones cleave to my skin.
6 Like pelican in wilderness
forsaken I have been :

7 I like an owl in desert am,
that nightly there doth moan,
I watch, and like a sparrow am
on the house-top alone.

8 My bitter en'mies all the day,
reproaches cast on me;
And, being mad at me, with rage
against me sworn they be.

9 For why? I ashes eaten have
like bread, in sorrows deep :
My drink I also mingled have
with tears that I did weep.
10 Thy wrath and indignation

did cause this grief and pain; For thou hast lift me up on high, and cast me down again.

11 My days are like unto a shade, which doth declining pass: And I am dry'd and withered, ev'n like unto the grass.

12 But thou, Lord, everlasting art, and thy remembrance shall Continually endure, and be

to generations all.

43 Thou shalt arise, and mercy have upon thy Zion yet:

The time to favour her is come,

the time that thou hast set.

14 For in her rubbish and her stones thy servants pleasure take; Yea, they the very dust thereof do favour for her sake.

15 So shall the heathen people fear the Lord's most holy name;

And all the kings on earth shall dread
thy glory and thy fame.

16 When Zion by the mighty Lord,
built up again shall be,
In glory then, and majesty,
to men appear shall he.
17 The prayer of the destitute
he surely will regard;

Their prayer will he not despise,
by him it shall be heard.

18 For generations yet to come
this shall be on record:

So shall the people that shall be
created, praise the Lord.

is

19 He from his sanctuary's height hath downward cast his eye: And from his glorious throne in heav'n the Lord the earth did spy:

20 That of the mournful prisoner
the groanings he might hear;
To set them free that unto death
by men appointed are :

21 That they in Zion may declare
the Lord's most holy name,
And publish in Jerusalem
the praises of the same.

22 When as the people gather shall
in troops with one accord,
When kingdoms shall assembled be
to serve the highest Lord.

23 My wonted strength and force he hath abated in the way;

21

And he my days hath shortened:
Thus, therefore, did I say,
My God, in mid-time of my days
take thou me not away:
From age to age eternally

thy years endure and stay.

25 The firm foundation of the earth
of old time thou hast laid:
The heavens also are the work
which thine own hands have made..
26 Thou shalt for evermore endure :
but they shall perish all;

Yea, ev'ry one of them wax old,
like to a garment, shall:

Thou as a vesture shalt them change,
and they shall changed be.

27 But thou the same art, and thy years are to eternity.

28 The children of thy servants shall

continually endure,

And in thy sight, O Lord, their seed
shall be establish'd sure.

SECOND VERSION.

ORD, hear my pray'r, and let my cry have speedy access unto thee.

In day of my calamity,

hide not thou thy face from me:

Hear when I call to thee; that day
An answer speedily return.

3 My days like smoke consume away,
And, as an hearth, my bones do burn.
4 My heart is wounded very sore,
And withered, like grass, doth fade :
I am forgetful grown therefore
To take and eat my daily bread.
5 By reason of my smart within,
And voice of my most grievous groans,
My flesh consumed is; my skin
All parch'd, doth cleave unto my bones
6 The pelican of wilderness,

The owl in desart, I do match:
And, sparrow-like, companionless,
Upon the house's top I watch.
8 I all day long am made a scorn,
Reproach'd by my malicious foes:
The mad men are against me sworn,
The men against me that arose.
9 For I have ashes eaten up,

To me as if they had been bread ;
And with my drink, I in my cup,
Of bitter tears, a mixture made.
10 Because thy wrath was not appeas'd,
And dreadful indignation:

Therefore it was that thou me rais'd, And thou again didst cast me down. 11 My days are like a shade alway, Which doth declining swiftly pass : And I am withered away,

Much like unto the fading grass. 12 But thou, O Lord, shalt still endure, From change and all mutation free;

And to all generations sure Shall thy remembrance ever be. 13 Thou shalt arise, and mercy yet Thou to mount Zion shalt extend: Her time for favour which was set, Behold is now come to an end. 14 Thy saints take pleasure in her stones; Her very dust to them is dear. 45 All heathen lands and kingly thrones, On earth, thy glorious name shall fear.. 16 God in his glory shall appear,

When Zion he builds and repairs. 47 He shall regard and lend his ear, Unto the needy's humble pray'rs. Th' afflicted's pray'r he will not scorn. 18 All times this shall be on record; And generations yet unborn

Shall praise and magnify the Lord. 19 He from his holy place look'd down; The earth he view'd from heav'n on high 20 To hear the pris'ner's mourning groan, And free them that are doom'd to die 21 That Zion and Jerus'lem too,

His name and praise may well record : 22 When people, and the kingdoms do Assemble all to praise the Lord. 23 My strength he weaken'd in the way; My days of life he shortened. 21 My God, O take me not away In mid-time of my days, I said: Thy years throughout all ages last.

25 Of old thou hast established

The earth's foundation firm and fast:
Thy mighty hands the heav'ns have made,