102. Lord, hear my prayer! My cry shall come before you

Author: Christopher Idle

Lord, hear my prayer! my cry shall come before you;
hide not your face when I am in distress.
My life burns up; my days have lost their glory,
drifting like smoke, in pain and helplessness.

2. Like some wild owl among deserted ruins,
lonely I call while enemies curse on.
Tears are my drink; God’s wrath is my undoing;
ashes my food till all my days are gone.

3. But you, O Lord, remain enthroned for ever;
you will arise; in you shall kingdoms trust.
Now is the time; your city pleads your favour,
your servants love her stones, her very dust.

4. God will rebuild! Write this to sing tomorrow;
lips yet unformed their hallelujahs cry!
Glory will dawn upon our world of sorrow,
freeing from prison those condemned to die.

5. Then shall your name on Zion’s hill be spoken;
strangers shall fill Jerusalem with praise.
But as for me, my strength is bruised and broken;
spare me, O God; do not cut short my days!

6. Heaven and earth you formed in the beginning;
these soon wear out-Lord, you remain the same!
They shall be changed; your years endure unending;
our children’s children live to praise your name.