English Standard Version

New Living Translation

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

1LORD, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea!

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!

2Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you.

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

3For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals.

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

4My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite.

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

5Because of my groaning, I 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 an owl in the desert, like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.

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

7I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.

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

8My enemies taunt me day after day. They mock and curse me.

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

9I eat ashes for food. My tears run down into my drink

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

10because of your anger and wrath. For you have picked me up and thrown me out.

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

11My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass.

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

12But you, O LORD, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.

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 mercy on Jerusalem — and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help.

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

14For your people love every stone in her walls and cherish even the dust in her streets.

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

15Then the nations will tremble before the LORD. The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.

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

16For the LORD will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory.

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

17He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.

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

18Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the LORD.

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

19Tell them the LORD looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven

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

20to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die.

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

21And so the LORD’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem,

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

22when multitudes gather together and kingdoms come to worship the LORD.

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

23He broke my strength in midlife, cutting 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!”

24But I cried to him, “O my God, who lives forever, don’t take my life while I am so young!

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

25Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with 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 forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them.

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

27But you are always the same; you will live forever.

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

28The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence.”

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.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.