| King James Bible | NET 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. | 1The prayer of an oppressed man, as he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. O LORD, hear my prayer! Pay attention to my cry for help! |
| 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 ignore me in my time of trouble! Listen to me! When I call out to you, quickly answer me! |
| 3For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. | 3For my days go up in smoke, and my bones are charred like a fireplace. |
| 4My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. | 4My heart is parched and withered like grass, for I am unable to eat food. |
| 5By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin. | 5Because of the anxiety that makes me groan, my bones protrude from my skin. |
| 6I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. | 6I am like an owl in the wilderness; I am like a screech 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. | 8All day long my enemies taunt me; those who mock me use my name in their curses. |
| 9For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, | 9For I eat ashes as if they were bread, and mix my drink with my tears, |
| 10Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. | 10because of your anger and raging fury. Indeed, you pick me up and throw me away. |
| 11My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. | 11My days are coming to an end, and I am withered like grass. |
| 12But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. | 12But you, O LORD, rule forever, and your reputation endures. |
| 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 have mercy on her, for the appointed time has come. |
| 14For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. | 14Indeed, your servants take delight in her stones, and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins. |
| 15So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. | 15The nations will respect the reputation of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will respect his splendor, |
| 16When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. | 16when the LORD rebuilds Zion, and reveals his splendor, |
| 17He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. | 17when he responds to the prayer of the destitute, and does not reject their request. |
| 18This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. | 18The account of his intervention will be recorded for future generations; people yet to be born will praise the LORD. |
| 19For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; | 19For he will look down from his sanctuary above; from heaven the LORD will look toward earth, |
| 20To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; | 20in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners, and to set free those condemned to die, |
| 21To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; | 21so they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion, and praise him in Jerusalem, |
| 22When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. | 22when the nations gather together, and the kingdoms pay tribute to the LORD. |
| 23He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days. | 23He has taken away my strength in the middle of life; he has cut short 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, "O my God, please do not take me away in the middle of my life! You endure through all generations. |
| 25Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. | 25In earlier times you established the earth; the skies are your handiwork. |
| 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. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear. |
| 27But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. | 27But you remain; your years do not come to an end. |
| 28The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee. | 28The children of your servants will settle down here, and their descendants will live securely in your presence." |
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