Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹³ But You, Adonai, sit enthroned forever.
Your renown is from generation to generation.
¹⁴ You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her,
for the appointed time has come,
¹⁵ for her stones are dear to Your servants,
and they cherish her dust.
¹⁶ So the nations will fear Adonai’s Name
and all the kings of the earth Your glory.
¹⁷ For Adonai has rebuilt Zion.
He has appeared in His glory.
¹⁸ He has turned to the prayer of the destitute,
and has not despised their prayer.
¹⁹ Let it be written for a generation to come,
that a people to be created may praise Adonai.
²⁰ For He looks down from His holy height,
from heaven Adonai gazes on the earth,
²¹ to hear the groaning of the prisoner,
to set free those condemned to death,
²² to declare the Name of Adonai in Zion
and His praise in Jerusalem,
²³ when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship Adonai.

²⁴ He brought down my strength in midcourse.
He shortened my days.
²⁵ I say, “My God,
do not take me up in the middle of my days.
Your years endure through all generations!
²⁶ Long ago You founded the earth,
the heavens are the work of Your hands.
²⁷ They will perish, but You will remain.
All of them will wear out like a garment.
Like clothing You change them, so they change.
²⁸ But You are the same,
and Your years will never end.

² “If only my grief could be weighed
    and my calamity placed on the scales.
³ For it outweighs the sands of the sea;
    that is why my words have been rash.
⁴ For the arrows of Shaddai are in me,
    my spirit drinks in their poison;
God’s terrors line up against me.
⁵ Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass
    or an ox bellow over his fodder?
⁶ Is something bland eaten without salt,
    is there taste in the white of an egg?
⁷ My soul refuses to touch them;
    they are like sickening food to me.

⁸ Oh that my request would be realized,
    that God would grant my hope;
⁹ that God would be willing to crush me,
    to release His hand, and cut me off!
¹⁰ Then I would still be comforted,
    even rejoice in spite of unrelenting pain,
for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

¹¹ “What is my strength,
    that I should hope?
What is my end,
    that I should endure?
¹² Is my strength the strength of rock?
    Is my flesh bronze?
¹³ Is there no help within me;
    has not success been banished from me?