³ For my days vanish like smoke;^(E)
my bones^(F) burn like glowing embers.
⁴ My heart is blighted and withered like grass;^(G)
I forget to eat my food.^(H)
5 In my distress I groan aloud^(I)
and am reduced to skin and bones.
⁶ I am like a desert owl,^(J)
like an owl among the ruins.
⁷ I lie awake;^(K) I have become
like a bird alone^(L) on a roof.
⁸ All day long my enemies^(M) taunt me;^(N)
those who rail against me use my name as a curse.^(O)
9 For I eat ashes^(P) as my food
and mingle my drink with tears^(Q)
10 because of your great wrath,^(R)
for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
¹¹ My days are like the evening shadow;^(S)
I wither^(T) away like grass.

¹² But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;^(U)
your renown endures^(V) through all generations.^(W)
13 You will arise^(X) and have compassion^(Y) on Zion,
for it is time^(Z) to show favor^(AA) to her;
the appointed time^(AB) has come.
¹⁴ For her stones are dear to your servants;
her very dust moves them to pity.
¹⁵ The nations will fear^(AC) the name of the Lord,
all the kings^(AD) of the earth will revere your glory.
¹⁶ For the Lord will rebuild Zion^(AE)
and appear in his glory.^(AF)
17 He will respond to the prayer^(AG) of the destitute;
he will not despise their plea.

¹⁸ Let this be written^(AH) for a future generation,
that a people not yet created^(AI) may praise the Lord:
¹⁹ “The Lord looked down^(AJ) from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,
²⁰ to hear the groans of the prisoners^(AK)
and release those condemned to death.”
²¹ So the name of the Lord will be declared^(AL) in Zion
and his praise^(AM) in Jerusalem
²² when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship^(AN) the Lord.

²³ In the course of my life^[b] he broke my strength;
he cut short my days.^(AO)
24 So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
your years go on^(AP) through all generations.
²⁵ In the beginning^(AQ) you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens^(AR) are the work of your hands.^(AS)
26 They will perish,^(AT) but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
²⁷ But you remain the same,^(AU)
and your years will never end.^(AV)
28 The children of your servants^(AW) will live in your presence;
their descendants^(AX) will be established before you.”

³ When my spirit grows faint^(F) within me,
it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
people have hidden a snare for me.
⁴ Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;^(G)
no one cares^(H) for my life.

⁵ I cry to you, Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,^(I)
my portion^(J) in the land of the living.”^(K)

⁶ Listen to my cry,^(L)
for I am in desperate need;^(M)
rescue me^(N) from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong^(O) for me.
⁷ Set me free from my prison,^(P)
that I may praise your name.^(Q)
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me.^(R)

⁷ Answer me quickly,^(AD) Lord;
my spirit fails.^(AE)
Do not hide your face^(AF) from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
⁸ Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,^(AG)
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way^(AH) I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.^(AI)
9 Rescue me^(AJ) from my enemies,^(AK) Lord,
for I hide myself in you.
¹⁰ Teach me^(AL) to do your will,
for you are my God;^(AM)
may your good Spirit
lead^(AN) me on level ground.^(AO)

¹¹ For your name’s sake,^(AP) Lord, preserve my life;^(AQ)
in your righteousness,^(AR) bring me out of trouble.
¹² In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;^(AS)
destroy all my foes,^(AT)
for I am your servant.^(AU)

¹⁰ The elders of Daughter Zion
sit on the ground in silence;^(A)
they have sprinkled dust^(B) on their heads^(C)
and put on sackcloth.^(D)
The young women of Jerusalem
have bowed their heads to the ground.^(E)

¹¹ My eyes fail from weeping,^(F)
I am in torment within^(G);
my heart^(H) is poured out^(I) on the ground
because my people are destroyed,^(J)
because children and infants faint^(K)
in the streets of the city.

¹² They say to their mothers,
“Where is bread and wine?”^(L)
as they faint like the wounded
in the streets of the city,
as their lives ebb away^(M)
in their mothers’ arms.^(N)

¹³ What can I say for you?^(O)
With what can I compare you,
Daughter^(P) Jerusalem?
To what can I liken you,
that I may comfort you,
Virgin Daughter Zion?^(Q)
Your wound is as deep as the sea.^(R)
Who can heal you?

¹⁴ The visions of your prophets
were false^(S) and worthless;
they did not expose your sin
to ward off your captivity.^(T)
The prophecies they gave you
were false and misleading.^(U)

¹⁵ All who pass your way
clap their hands at you;^(V)
they scoff^(W) and shake their heads^(X)
at Daughter Jerusalem:^(Y)
“Is this the city that was called
the perfection of beauty,^(Z)
the joy of the whole earth?”^(AA)

¹⁶ All your enemies open their mouths
wide against you;^(AB)
they scoff and gnash their teeth^(AC)
and say, “We have swallowed her up.^(AD)
This is the day we have waited for;
we have lived to see it.”^(AE)

¹⁷ The Lord has done what he planned;
he has fulfilled^(AF) his word,
which he decreed long ago.^(AG)
He has overthrown you without pity,^(AH)
he has let the enemy gloat over you,^(AI)
he has exalted the horn^[a] of your foes.^(AJ)

¹⁸ The hearts of the people
cry out to the Lord.^(AK)
You walls of Daughter Zion,^(AL)
let your tears^(AM) flow like a river
day and night;^(AN)
give yourself no relief,
your eyes no rest.^(AO)