I have watched, and am become as solitary as a sparrow upon the house-top. My enemies upbraided me all the day long: and they that praised me swore against me. For I did eat ashes like bread: and mingled my drink with my tears. Because of thy wrath and indignation: for having lifted me up, thou hast cast me down. My days have declined like a shadow: and I am withered like grass. But thou, O Lord, remainest for ever: and thy memory is from generation to generation. Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion: for the time to have mercy on it is come. For the stones thereof have pleased thy servants: and they shall have pity on the earth thereof. And the Gentiles shall fear thy name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. For the Lord hath built up Sion: and he shall be seen in his glory. He hath regard to the prayer of the humble: and he hath not despised their petition. {148} Let these things be written unto another generation: and a people to be created shall praise the Lord. Because he hath looked forth from his high sanctuary: the Lord from heaven hath looked down upon the earth; That he might hear the groans of them that are in fetters: that he might unbind the children of them that are slain. That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion: and his praise in Jerusalem. In the assembling of the people together in one; and kings to serve the Lord. He answered me in the way of his strength: Declare unto me the fewness of my days. Call me not back in the midst of my days: thy years are from generation unto generation. In the beginning, O Lord, thou didst found the earth: and the heavens are the works of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou remainest: and they shall all grow old as a garment. And as a vestment thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed: but thou art always the self-same, and thy years shall not fail. The children of thy servants shall continue: and their seed shall be directed for ever. Glory, &c. The Hundred-and-twenty-ninth Psalm. The Psalmist earnestly begs pardon, foretelling redemption through Christ. From the depths I have cried unto thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice. {149} Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my petition. If thou wilt observe iniquities, O Lord! Lord, who will endure it? For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and on account of thy law I have expected thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on his word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord. From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Glory, &c. The Hundred-and-forty-second Psalm. The Psalmist prays that God would not regard him according to his merits, but look upon his miseries, and deliver him from them, and also from his enemies. O Lord hear my prayer; give ear to my petition in thy truth; hear me in thy justice.