1 «A PrayerBy which is signified, that even though we are in great misery, yet there is always room for prayer.of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.» Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let myHe declares that in our prayer we must lively feel that which we desire, and steadfastly believe to obtain.cry come unto thee.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble: incline thine eares vnto me: when I call, make haste to heare me.
3 For my days areThese excessive kinds of speech show how much the affliction of the Church should wound the hearts of the godly.consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forgetMy sorrows were so great that I did not eat.to eat my bread.
5 For the voyce of my groning my bones doe cleaue to my skinne.
6 I am like aAlways mourning in solitude and casting out fearful cries.pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
7 I watch and am as a sparrowe alone vpon the house top.
8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; [and] they that are mad against me areHave conspired my death.sworn against me.
9 For I haveI have not risen out of my mourning to take my refreshment.eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
10 Because of thineHe shows that not only the afflictions moved him, but chiefly the feeling of God's displeasure.indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
11 My dayes are like a shadowe that fadeth, and I am withered like grasse.
12 But thou, O LORD, shaltThough we are frail, yet your promise is sure, and the remembrance of it will confirm us forever.endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
13 Thou shalt arise, [and] have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, theThat is, the seventy years which by the prophet Jeremiah you appointed, (Jer_29:12).set time, is come.
14 For thy servants take pleasure in herThe more the Church is in misery and desolation, the more the faithful should love and pity it.stones, and favour the dust thereof.
15 Then the heathen shall feare the Name of the Lord, and all the Kings of the earth thy glory,
16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appearThat is, when he will have drawn his church out of the darkness of death.in his glory.
17 And shall turne vnto the prayer of the desolate, and not despise their prayer.
18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall beThe deliverance of the Church is an excellent benefit, and therefore he compares it to a new creation for in their banishment the body of the Church seemed to have been dead, which by deliverance was as it were created anew.created shall praise the LORD.
19 For he hath looked downe from the height of his Sanctuarie: out of the heauen did the Lord beholde the earth,
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that areWho now in their banishment could look for nothing but death.appointed to death;
21 That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Zion, and his prayse in Ierusalem,
22 When the people are gatheredHe shows that Gad's name is never more praised, than when religion flourishes and the church increases: which is chiefly accomplished under the kingdom of Christ.together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23 HeThe church lament that they see not the time of Christ, which was promised, but have but few years and short days.weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
24 And I sayd, O my God, take me not away in the middes of my dayes: thy yeeres endure from generation to generation.
25 Thou hast aforetime layde the foundation of the earth, and the heauens are the worke of thine hands.
26 If heaven and earth perish, much more man will perish: but the Church by reason of God's promise endures forever.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:
27 But thou art the same, and thy yeeres shall not fayle.
28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shallSeeing you have chosen your Church out of the world, and joined it to you, it cannot but continue forever: for you are everlasting.be established before thee.
