| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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 like a hearth. | 3For my days vanish like smoke; 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 blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. |
| 5Because of the sound of my groaning My bones cling 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 lie awake, And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop. | 7I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. |
| 8My enemies reproach me all day long; Those who deride me swear an oath 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 Your indignation and Your wrath; For You have lifted me up and cast me away. | 10because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside. |
| 11My days are like a shadow that lengthens, And I wither away like grass. | 11My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. |
| 12But You, O LORD, shall endure forever, And the remembrance of Your name to all generations. | 12But you, LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. |
| 13You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come. | 13You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. |
| 14For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, And show favor to her dust. | 14For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity. |
| 15So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, And all the kings of the earth Your glory. | 15The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. |
| 16For the LORD shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory. | 16For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. |
| 17He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer. | 17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. |
| 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 a future generation, 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, | 19"The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, |
| 20To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To release those 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 peoples 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, Do not take me away in the midst of my days; Your 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 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 discarded. |
| 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 live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you." |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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