1 Lord, hear my prayer! My cry shall come before you;
hide not your face when I am in distress.
My life burns up; my days have lost their glory,
drifting like smoke, in pain and helplessness.

2 Like some wild owl among deserted ruins,
lonely I call while enemies curse on.
Tears are my drink; God's wrath is my undoing;
ashes my food till all my days are gone.

3 But you, O Lord, remain enthroned for ever;
you will arise; in you shall kingdoms trust.
Now is the time; your city pleads your favour,
your servants love her stones, her very dust.

4 God will rebuild! Write this to sing tomorrow;
lips yet unformed their Hallelujahs cry!
Glory will dawn upon our world of sorrow,
freeing from prison those condemned to die.

5 Then shall your name on Zion's hill be spoken;
strangers shall fill Jerusalem with praise.
But as for me, my strength is bruised and broken;
spare me, O God; do not cut short my days!

6 Heaven and earth you formed in the beginning;
these soon wear out - Lord, you remain the same!
They shall be changed; your years endure unending;
our children's children live to praise your name.