| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you! | 1A prayer of an afflicted person who is weak and pours out his lament before the LORD. LORD, hear my prayer; 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 trouble. Listen closely 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 a furnace. |
| 4My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread. | 4My heart is afflicted, withered like grass; I even forget to eat my food. |
| 5Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh. | 5Because of the sound of my groaning, my flesh sticks 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 stay awake; I am like a solitary bird on a roof. |
| 8All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse. | 8My enemies taunt me all day long; they ridicule and curse me. |
| 9For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink, | 9I eat ashes like bread and mingle my drinks 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 thrown me aside. |
| 11My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass. | 11My days are like a lengthening shadow, and I wither away like grass. |
| 12But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations. | 12But You, LORD, are enthroned forever; Your fame 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 favor to her-- the appointed time has come. |
| 14For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust. | 14For Your servants take delight in its stones and favor its dust. |
| 15Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. | 15Then the nations will fear the name of Yahweh, and all the kings of the earth Your glory, |
| 16For the LORD builds up Zion; he appears in his glory; | 16for the LORD will rebuild Zion; He will appear in His glory. |
| 17he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer. | 17He will pay attention to the prayer of the destitute and 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: | 18This will be written for a later generation, and a newly created people will praise the LORD: |
| 19that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth, | 19He looked down from His holy heights-- 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 set free those condemned to die, |
| 21that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise, | 21so that they might declare the name of Yahweh in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem, |
| 22when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD. | 22when peoples and kingdoms are assembled to serve the LORD. |
| 23He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days. | 23He has broken my strength in midcourse; He has shortened 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: "My God, do not take me in the middle of my life! Your years continue through all generations. |
| 25Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. | 25Long ago You established 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 will endure; all of them will wear out like clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will pass away. |
| 27but you are the same, and your years have no end. | 27But You are the same, and Your years will never end. |
| 28The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you. | 28Your servants' children will dwell securely, and their offspring will be established before You." |
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