King James Bible

New Living Translation

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.

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

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.

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 are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

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

4My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

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

5By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

5Because of my groaning, I 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 an owl in the desert, like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.

7I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.

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

8Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

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

9For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

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

10Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

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

11My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

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

12But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.

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

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 mercy on Jerusalem — and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help.

14For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

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

15So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

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

16When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

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

17He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

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

18This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

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

19For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

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

20To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

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

21To 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 the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

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

23He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.

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

24I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.

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

25Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

25Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with 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 forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them.

27But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

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

28The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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.