| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you! | 1A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, LORD; let my cry for help come to 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 when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. |
| 3For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. | 3For my days vanish like smoke; 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 blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. |
| 5Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh. | 5In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and 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 have become like a bird alone on a roof. |
| 8All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse. | 8All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. |
| 9For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink, | 9For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears |
| 10because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down. | 10because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside. |
| 11My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass. | 11My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. |
| 12But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations. | 12But you, LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. |
| 13You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come. | 13You will arise 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 her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity. |
| 15Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. | 15The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. |
| 16For the LORD builds up Zion; he appears in his glory; | 16For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. |
| 17he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer. | 17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. |
| 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 a future generation, 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, | 19"The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, |
| 20to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, | 20to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death." |
| 21that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise, | 21So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem |
| 22when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD. | 22when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD. |
| 23He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days. | 23In the course of my life he broke my strength; he 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!” | 24So I said: "Do not take me away, my God, 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 discarded. |
| 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 live in your presence; 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. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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