New International Reader's Version NIRV
New International Version NIV
1 Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for help.
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Hear my prayer, LORD; let my cry for help come to you.
2 Don't turn your face away from me when I'm in trouble. Pay attention to me. When I call out 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 days are disappearing like smoke. My body burns like glowing coals.
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For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.
4 My strength has dried up like grass. I even forget to eat my food.
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My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.
5 I groan out loud because of my suffering. I'm nothing but skin and bones.
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In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I'm like a desert owl. I'm like an owl among destroyed buildings.
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I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
7 I can't sleep. I've become like a bird alone on a roof.
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I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.
8 All day long my enemies laugh at 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 as my food. My tears fall into what I'm drinking.
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For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears
10 You were very angry with me. So you picked me up and threw me away.
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because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11 The days of my life are like an evening shadow. I dry up like grass.
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My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
12 But Lord, you are seated on your throne forever. Your fame will continue for all time to come.
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But you, LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.
13 You will rise up and show deep concern for Zion. The time has come for you to show favor to it.
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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 The stones of your destroyed city are priceless to us. Even its dust brings deep concern to us.
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For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity.
15 The nations will worship the Lord. All of the kings on earth will respect his glorious power.
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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 build Zion again. He will appear in his glory.
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For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.
17 He will answer the prayer of those who don't have anything. He won't say no to their cry for help.
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He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.
18 Let this be written down for those born after us. Then people who are not yet born can 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 Here is what should be written. "The LORD looked down from his temple in heaven. From heaven he viewed 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 groans of the prisoners. He set free those who were sentenced to death."
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to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.”
21 So people will talk about him in Zion. They will praise him in Jerusalem.
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So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
22 Nations and kingdoms will gather there to worship the Lord.
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when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.
23 When I was still young, he took away my strength. He wasn't going to let me live much longer.
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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, don't let me die in the middle of my life. You will live for all time to come.
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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 secure. You placed it on its foundations. Your hands created the heavens.
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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 pass away. But you will remain. They will all wear out like a piece of clothing. You will make them like clothes that are taken off and thrown 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 remain the same. Your years will never end.
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But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
28 Our children will live with you. Their sons and daughters will be safe in your care."
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The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.”
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
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.