New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 Lord, listen to my prayer; let my cry for help come to you.
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Hear my prayer, LORD; let my cry for help come to you.
2 Do not hide from me in my time of trouble. Pay attention to me. When I cry for help, answer me quickly.
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Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.
3 My life is passing away like smoke, and my bones are burned up with fire.
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For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.
4 My heart is like grass that has been cut and dried. I forget to eat.
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My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.
5 Because of my grief, my skin hangs on my bones.
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In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I am like a desert owl, like an owl living among the ruins.
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I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake. I am like a lonely bird on a housetop.
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I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.
8 All day long enemies insult me; those who make fun of me use my name as a curse.
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All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
9 I eat ashes for food, and my tears fall into my drinks.
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For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears
10 Because of your great anger, you have picked me up and thrown me away.
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because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like a passing shadow; I am like dried grass.
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My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
12 But, Lord, you rule forever, and your fame goes on and on.
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But you, LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.
13 You will come and have mercy on Jerusalem, because the time has now come to be kind to her; the right time has come.
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You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.
14 Your servants love even her stones; they even care about her dust.
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For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity.
15 Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings on earth will honor you.
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The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
16 The Lord will rebuild Jerusalem; there his glory will be seen.
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For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.
17 He will answer the prayers of the needy; he will not reject their prayers.
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He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.
18 Write these things for the future so that people who are not yet born will praise the Lord.
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Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
19 The Lord looked down from his holy place above; from heaven he looked down at the earth.
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“The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth,
20 He heard the moans of the prisoners, and he freed those sentenced to die.
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to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.”
21 The name of the Lord will be heard in Jerusalem; his praise will be heard there.
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So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
22 People will come together, and kingdoms will serve the Lord.
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when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.
23 God has made me tired of living; he has cut short my life.
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In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days.
24 So I said, "My God, do not take me in the middle of my life. Your years go on and on.
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So I said: “Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations.
25 In the beginning you made the earth, and your hands made the skies.
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In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will be destroyed, but you will remain. They will all wear out like clothes. And, like clothes, you will change them and throw them away.
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They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.
27 But you never change, and your life will never end.
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But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
28 Our children will live in your presence, and their children will remain with you." Of David.
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The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.”
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.