New Century Version NCV
English Standard Version ESV
1 Lord, listen to my prayer; let my cry for help come to you.
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Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry 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 in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!
3 My life is passing away like smoke, and my bones are burned up with fire.
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For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.
4 My heart is like grass that has been cut and dried. I forget to eat.
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My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of my grief, my skin hangs on my bones.
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Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh.
6 I am like a desert owl, like an owl living among the ruins.
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I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;
7 I lie awake. I am like a lonely bird on a housetop.
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I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
8 All day long enemies insult me; those who make fun of me use my name as a curse.
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All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.
9 I eat ashes for food, and my tears fall into my drinks.
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For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink,
10 Because of your great anger, you have picked me up and thrown me away.
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because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
11 My days are like a passing shadow; I am like dried grass.
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My days are like an 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, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout 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 pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.
14 Your servants love even her stones; they even care about her dust.
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For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.
15 Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings on earth will honor you.
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Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
16 The Lord will rebuild Jerusalem; there his glory will be seen.
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For the Lord builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;
17 He will answer the prayers of the needy; he will not reject their prayers.
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he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.
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 recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be 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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that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at 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, to set free those who were doomed to die,
21 The name of the Lord will be heard in Jerusalem; his praise will be heard there.
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that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, and in Jerusalem his praise,
22 People will come together, and kingdoms will serve the Lord.
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when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
23 God has made me tired of living; he has cut short my life.
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He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened 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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“O my God, ” I say, “take me not away in the midst of my days— you whose years endure throughout all generations! ”
25 In the beginning you made the earth, and your hands made the skies.
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Of old you laid the foundation 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 will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
27 But you never change, and your life will never end.
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but you are the same, and your years have no 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 shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.