Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

1LORD, hear my prayer; let my cry for help come before you.

1LORD, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea!

2Do not hide your face from me in my day of trouble. Listen closely to me; answer me quickly when I call.

2Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you.

3For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.

3For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals.

4My heart is suffering, withered like grass; I even forget to eat my food.

4My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite.

5Because of the sound of my groaning, my flesh sticks to my bones.

5Because of my groaning, I am reduced to skin and bones.

6I am like an eagle owl, like a little owl among the ruins.

6I am like an owl in the desert, like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.

7I stay awake; I am like a solitary bird on a roof.

7I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.

8My enemies taunt me all day long; they ridicule and use my name as a curse.

8My enemies taunt me day after day. They mock and curse me.

9I eat ashes like bread and mingle my drinks with tears

9I eat ashes for food. My tears run down into my drink

10because of your indignation and wrath; for you have picked me up and thrown me aside.

10because of your anger and wrath. For you have picked me up and thrown me out.

11My days are like a lengthening shadow, and I wither away like grass.

11My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass.

12But you, LORD, are enthroned forever; your fame endures to all generations.

12But you, O LORD, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.

13You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her--the appointed time has come.

13You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem — and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help.

14For your servants take delight in its stones and favor its dust.

14For your people love every stone in her walls and cherish even the dust in her streets.

15Then the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory,

15Then the nations will tremble before the LORD. The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.

16for the LORD will rebuild Zion; he will appear in his glory.

16For the LORD will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory.

17He will pay attention to the prayer of the destitute and will not despise their prayer.

17He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.

18This will be written for a later generation, and a people who have not yet been created will praise the LORD:

18Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the LORD.

19He looked down from his holy heights--the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth--

19Tell them the LORD looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven

20to hear a prisoner's groaning, to set free those condemned to die,

20to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die.

21so that they might declare the name of the LORD in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem,

21And so the LORD’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem,

22when peoples and kingdoms are assembled to serve the LORD.

22when multitudes gather together and kingdoms come to worship the LORD.

23He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days.

23He broke my strength in midlife, cutting short my days.

24I say: "My God, do not take me in the middle of my life! Your years continue through all generations.

24But I cried to him, “O my God, who lives forever, don’t take my life while I am so young!

25Long ago you established the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

25Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.

26They will perish, but you will endure; all of them will wear out like clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will pass away.

26They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them.

27But you are the same, and your years will never end.

27But you are always the same; you will live forever.

28Your servants' children will dwell securely, and their offspring will be established before you."

28The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence.”

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.