King James Bible

Christian Standard Bible

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; let my cry for help come before 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 in my day of trouble. Listen closely to me; answer me quickly when I call.

3For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

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

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

4My heart is suffering, withered like grass; I even forget to eat my food.

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

5Because of the sound of my groaning, my flesh sticks to my bones.

6I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.

6I am like an eagle owl, like a little owl among the ruins.

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

7I stay awake; I am like a solitary bird on a roof.

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

8My enemies taunt me all day long; they ridicule and use my name as a curse.

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

9I eat ashes like bread and mingle my drinks with tears

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

10because of your indignation and wrath; for you have picked me up and thrown me aside.

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

11My days are like a lengthening shadow, and I wither away like grass.

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

12But you, LORD, are enthroned forever; your fame endures to all generations.

13Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

13You will rise up 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 your servants take delight in its stones and favor its dust.

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

15Then the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory,

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

16for the LORD will rebuild Zion; he will appear in his glory.

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

17He will pay attention to the prayer of the destitute and will not despise their prayer.

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

18This will be written for a later generation, and a people who have not yet been created will praise the LORD:

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

19He looked down from his holy heights--the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth--

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

20to hear a prisoner's groaning, to set free those condemned to die,

21To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

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

22When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

22when peoples and kingdoms are assembled to serve the LORD.

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

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

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

24I say: "My God, do not take me in the middle of my life! Your years continue through all generations.

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

25Long ago you established 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 will endure; all of them will wear out like clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will pass away.

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

27But you are the same, and your years will never end.

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

28Your servants' children will dwell securely, and their offspring will be established before you."

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.