| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 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! | 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 ignore me in my time of trouble! Listen to me! When I call out to you, quickly answer me! | 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 go up in smoke, and my bones are charred like a fireplace. | 3For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. |
| 4My heart is parched and withered like grass, for I am unable to eat food. | 4My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. |
| 5Because of the anxiety that makes me groan, my bones protrude from my skin. | 5In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones. |
| 6I am like an owl in the wilderness; I am like a screech owl among the ruins. | 6I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. |
| 7I stay awake; I am like a solitary bird on a roof. | 7I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. |
| 8All day long my enemies taunt me; those who mock me use my name in their curses. | 8All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. |
| 9For I eat ashes as if they were bread, and mix my drink with my tears, | 9For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears |
| 10because of your anger and raging fury. Indeed, you pick me up and throw me away. | 10because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside. |
| 11My days are coming to an end, and I am withered like grass. | 11My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. |
| 12But you, O LORD, rule forever, and your reputation endures. | 12But you, LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. |
| 13You will rise up and have compassion on Zion. For it is time to have mercy on her, for the appointed 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. |
| 14Indeed, your servants take delight in her stones, and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins. | 14For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity. |
| 15The nations will respect the reputation of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will respect his splendor, | 15The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. |
| 16when the LORD rebuilds Zion, and reveals his splendor, | 16For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. |
| 17when he responds to the prayer of the destitute, and does not reject their request. | 17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. |
| 18The account of his intervention will be recorded for future generations; people yet to be born will praise the LORD. | 18Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD: |
| 19For he will look down from his sanctuary above; from heaven the LORD will look toward earth, | 19"The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, |
| 20in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners, and to set free those condemned to die, | 20to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death." |
| 21so they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion, and praise him in Jerusalem, | 21So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem |
| 22when the nations gather together, and the kingdoms pay tribute to the LORD. | 22when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD. |
| 23He has taken away my strength in the middle of life; he has cut short my days. | 23In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days. |
| 24I say, "O my God, please do not take me away in the middle of my life! You endure through 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. |
| 25In earlier times you established the earth; the skies are your handiwork. | 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. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear. | 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 remain; your years do not come to an end. | 27But you remain the same, and your years will never end. |
| 28The children of your servants will settle down here, and their descendants will live securely in your presence." | 28The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you." |
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