English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
1 Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you!
1
Hear my prayer, LORD; let my cry for help come to you.
2 Do 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!
2
Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.
3 For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.
3
For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.
4 My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.
4
My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.
5 Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh.
5
In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;
6
I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
7
I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.
8 All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.
8
All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
9 For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink,
9
For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears
10 because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
10
because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
11
My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
12 But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.
12
But you, LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.
13 You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.
13
You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.
14
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 of the earth will fear your glory.
15
The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
16 For the LORD builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;
16
For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.
17 he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.
17
He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.
18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:
18
Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
19 that 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,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die,
20
to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.”
21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise,
21
So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
22 when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.
22
when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.
23 He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days.
23
In 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!"
24
So I said: “Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations.
25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
25
In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They 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,
26
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 are the same, and your years have no end.
27
But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.
28
The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.”
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
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.