I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house-top. Mine enemies reproach me all the day; _and_ they that are mad against me are sworn against me. For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping; Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. My days _are_ like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever, and thy remembrance unto all generations. Thou shalt arise, _and_ have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. This shall be written for the generation to come; and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to loose those that are appointed to death; To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days. I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days; thy years _are_ throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens _are_ the work of thy hands. They 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: But thou _art_ the same, and thy years shall have no end. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee. This Psalm is a prayer of an afflicted and tempted heart, miserably sighing and praying for deliverance and the coming of the kingdom of God. And indeed the whole sum and substance of this Psalm is, “Thy kingdom come.” This Psalm may be used as a general prayer. It was used especially by the fathers under the law: who being most spiritual men, and knowing the infinite weight of sin, and the kingdom of death, longed for the coming and revelation of Christ, the kingdom of grace, and the blessing promised.