Psalm 102:3–11

For my days vanish like smoke;

my bones burn like glowing embers.

My heart is blighted and withered like grass;

I forget to eat my food.

In my distress I groan aloud

and am reduced to skin and bones.

I am like a desert owl,

like an owl among the ruins.

I lie awake; I have become

like a bird alone on a roof.

All day long my enemies taunt me;

those who rail against me use my name as a curse.

For I eat ashes as my food

and mingle my drink with tears

because of your great wrath,

for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.

My days are like the evening shadow;

I wither away like grass.

For my days vanish like smoke,

and my bones burn like a furnace.

My heart is suffering, withered like grass;

I even forget to eat my food.

Because of the sound of my groaning,

my flesh sticks to my bones.

I am like an eagle owl,

like a little owl among the ruins.

I stay awake;

I am like a solitary bird on a roof.

My enemies taunt me all day long;

they ridicule and use my name as a curse.

I eat ashes like bread

and mingle my drinks with tears

because of your indignation and wrath;

for you have picked me up and thrown me aside.

My days are like a lengthening shadow,

and I wither away like grass.

For my days disappear like smoke,

and my bones burn like red-hot coals.

My heart is sick, withered like grass,

and I have lost my appetite.

Because of my groaning,

I am reduced to skin and bones.

I am like an owl in the desert,

like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.

I lie awake,

lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.

My enemies taunt me day after day.

They mock and curse me.

I eat ashes for food.

My tears run down into my drink

because of your anger and wrath.

For you have picked me up and thrown me out.

My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows.

I am withering away like grass.

for my days vanish in smoke,

and my bones are charred like a hearth.

My heart is struck like grass and withers.

Indeed, I forget to eat my bread.

Because of the sound of my groaning

my bones cling to my skin.

I am like an owl of the wilderness;

I am like a little owl of the ruins.

I lie awake and I am

like a lone bird on a roof.

All the day my enemies reproach me;

those who mock me swear oaths against me.

Indeed, I eat ashes like bread

and mix my drink with tears

because of your indignation and anger,

for you have picked me up and thrown me away.

My days are like a lengthened shadow,

and I wither like grass.

For my days are consumed like smoke,

And my bones are burned as an hearth.

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass;

So that I forget to eat my bread.

By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

I am like a pelican of the wilderness:

I am like an owl of the desert.

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.