| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. | 1A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, LORD; let my cry for help come to you. |
| 2Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. | 2Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. |
| 3For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. | 3For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. |
| 4My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. | 4My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. |
| 5By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin. | 5In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones. |
| 6I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. | 6I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. |
| 7I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top. | 7I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. |
| 8Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me. | 8All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. |
| 9For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, | 9For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears |
| 10Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. | 10because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside. |
| 11My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. | 11My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. |
| 12But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. | 12But you, LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. |
| 13Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. | 13You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. |
| 14For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. | 14For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity. |
| 15So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. | 15The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. |
| 16When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. | 16For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. |
| 17He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. | 17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. |
| 18This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. | 18Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD: |
| 19For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; | 19"The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, |
| 20To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; | 20to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death." |
| 21To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; | 21So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem |
| 22When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. | 22when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD. |
| 23He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days. | 23In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days. |
| 24I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. | 24So I said: "Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations. |
| 25Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. | 25In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. |
| 26They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: | 26They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. |
| 27But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. | 27But you remain the same, and your years will never end. |
| 28The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee. | 28The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you." |
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