New Living Translation

English Standard Version

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

1Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you!

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

2Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!

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

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

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

4My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.

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

5Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh.

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

6I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;

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

7I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.

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

8All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.

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

9For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink,

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

10because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down.

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

11My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.

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

12But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.

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

13You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.

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

14For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.

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

15Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.

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

16For the LORD builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;

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

17he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.

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

18Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:

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

19that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,

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

20to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die,

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

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

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

22when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.

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

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

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

24“O my God,” I say, “take me not away in the midst of my days— you whose years endure throughout all generations!”

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

25Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

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

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

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

27but you are the same, and your years have no end.

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

28The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.

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.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.