English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you!
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Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry 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!
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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.
3 For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.
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For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.
4 My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.
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My heart is stricken and withered like grass; I am too wasted to eat my bread.
5 Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh.
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Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my skin.
6 I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;
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I am like an owl of the wilderness, like a little owl of the waste places.
7 I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
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I lie awake; I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.
8 All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.
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All day long my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.
9 For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink,
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For I eat ashes like bread, and mingle tears with my drink,
10 because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
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because of your indignation and anger; for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
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My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
12 But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.
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But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; your name endures to all generations.
13 You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.
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You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to favor it; the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.
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For your servants hold its stones dear, and have pity on its dust.
15 Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
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The nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 For the Lord builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;
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For the Lord will build up Zion; he will appear in his glory.
17 he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.
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He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and will not despise their prayer.
18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
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Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord:
19 that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
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that he looked down from his holy height, from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die,
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to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die;
21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, and in Jerusalem his praise,
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so that the name of the Lord may be declared in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,
22 when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
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when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
23 He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days.
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He 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! ”
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"O my God," I say, "do not take me away at the midpoint of my life, you whose years endure throughout all generations."
25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
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Long ago you laid the foundation 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,
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They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment. You change them like clothing, and they pass away;
27 but you are the same, and your years have no end.
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but you are the same, and your years have no end.
28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.
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The children of your servants shall live secure; their offspring shall be established in your presence.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.