English Standard Version

Berean Study Bible

1Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you!

1A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You.

2Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!

2Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.

3For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.

3For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.

4My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.

4My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.

5Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh.

5Through my loud groaning my flesh clings to my bones.

6I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;

6I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.

7I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.

7I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.

8All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.

8All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me.

9For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink,

9For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears

10because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down.

10because of Your indignation and wrath, for You have picked me up and cast me aside.

11My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.

11My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass.

12But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.

12But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures to all generations.

13You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.

13You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor—the appointed time has come.

14For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.

14For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust.

15Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.

15So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.

16For the LORD builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;

16For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.

17he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.

17He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.

18Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:

18Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.

19that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,

19For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary; the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth

20to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die,

20to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death,

21that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise,

21that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion and praise Him in Jerusalem,

22when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.

22when peoples and kingdoms assemble to serve the LORD.

23He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days.

23He has broken my strength on the way; He has cut short my days.

24“O my God,” I say, “take me not away in the midst of my days— you whose years endure throughout all generations!”

24I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days! Your years go on through all generations.

25Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

25In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

26They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,

26They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on.

27but you are the same, and your years have no end.

27But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.

28The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.

28The children of Your servants will dwell securely, and their descendants will be established before You.”

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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