| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, And let my cry come to You. | 1A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You. |
| 2Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline Your ear to me; In the day that I call, answer me speedily. | 2Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call. |
| 3For my days are consumed like smoke, And my bones are burned like a hearth. | 3For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers. |
| 4My heart is stricken and withered like grass, So that I forget to eat my bread. | 4My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread. |
| 5Because of the sound of my groaning My bones cling to my skin. | 5Through my loud groaning my flesh clings to my 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 lie awake, And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop. | 7I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop. |
| 8My enemies reproach me all day long; Those who deride me swear an oath against me. | 8All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me. |
| 9For I have eaten ashes like bread, And mingled my drink with weeping, | 9For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears |
| 10Because of Your indignation and Your wrath; For You have lifted me up and cast me away. | 10because of Your indignation and wrath, for You have picked me up and cast me aside. |
| 11My days are like a shadow that lengthens, And I wither away like grass. | 11My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass. |
| 12But You, O LORD, shall endure forever, And the remembrance of Your name to all generations. | 12But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures to all generations. |
| 13You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come. | 13You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor—the appointed time has come. |
| 14For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, And show favor to her dust. | 14For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust. |
| 15So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, And all the kings of the earth Your glory. | 15So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory. |
| 16For the LORD shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory. | 16For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory. |
| 17He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer. | 17He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer. |
| 18This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD. | 18Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD. |
| 19For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; From heaven the LORD viewed the earth, | 19For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary; the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth |
| 20To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To release those appointed to death, | 20to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death, |
| 21To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, And His praise in Jerusalem, | 21that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion and praise Him in Jerusalem, |
| 22When the peoples are gathered together, And the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. | 22when peoples and kingdoms assemble to serve the LORD. |
| 23He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days. | 23He has broken my strength on the way; He has cut short my days. |
| 24I said, “O my God, Do not take me away in the midst of my days; Your years are throughout all generations. | 24I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days! Your years go on through all generations. |
| 25Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. | 25In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. |
| 26They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will 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 passed on. |
| 27But You are the same, And Your years will have no end. | 27But You remain the same, and Your years will never end. |
| 28The children of Your servants will continue, And their descendants will be established before You.” | 28The children of Your servants will dwell securely, and their descendants will be established before You.” |
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