³ For my days ^(J)pass away like smoke,
    and my ^(K)bones burn like a furnace.
⁴ My heart is ^(L)struck down like grass and ^(M)has withered;
    I ^(N)forget to eat my bread.
⁵ Because of my loud groaning
    my ^(O)bones cling to my flesh.
⁶ I am like ^(P)a desert owl of the wilderness,
    like an owl^[a] of the waste places;
⁷ I ^(Q)lie awake;
    I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
⁸ All the day my enemies taunt me;
    those who ^(R)deride me ^(S)use my name for a curse.
⁹ For I eat ashes like bread
    and ^(T)mingle tears with my drink,
¹⁰ because of your indignation and anger;
    for you have ^(U)taken me up and ^(V)thrown me down.
¹¹ My days are like ^(W)an evening shadow;
    I ^(X)wither away like grass.

¹² But you, O Lord, are ^(Y)enthroned forever;
    you ^(Z)are remembered throughout all generations.
¹³ You will ^(AA)arise and have ^(AB)pity on Zion;
    it is the time to favor her;
    ^(AC)the appointed time has come.
¹⁴ For your servants hold her ^(AD)stones dear
    and have pity on her dust.
¹⁵ Nations will ^(AE)fear the name of the Lord,
    and all ^(AF)the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
¹⁶ For the Lord ^(AG)builds up Zion;
    he ^(AH)appears in his glory;
¹⁷ he ^(AI)regards the prayer of the destitute
    and does not despise their prayer.

¹⁸ Let this be ^(AJ)recorded for ^(AK)a generation to come,
    so that ^(AL)a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
¹⁹ that he ^(AM)looked down from his holy height;
    from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
²⁰ to hear ^(AN)the groans of the prisoners,
    to set free ^(AO)those who were doomed to die,
²¹ that they may ^(AP)declare in Zion the name of the Lord,
    and in Jerusalem his praise,
²² when ^(AQ)peoples gather together,
    and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.

²³ He has broken my strength in midcourse;
    he ^(AR)has shortened my days.
²⁴ “O my God,” ^(AS)I say, “take me not away
    in the midst of my days—
^(AT)you whose years endure
    throughout all generations!”

^25 (AU)Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
    and ^(AV)the heavens are the work of your hands.
^26 (AW)They will perish, but ^(AX)you will remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
²⁷     but ^(AY)you are the same, and your years have no end.
^28 (AZ)The children of your servants ^(BA)shall dwell secure;
    ^(BB)their offspring shall be established before you.