The Prayer of the Afflicted 1 WBS A 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 to thee. BSB BSB: A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You.
2 WBS Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thy ear to me: in the day when I call, answer me speedily. BSB BSB: Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.
3 WBS For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. BSB BSB: For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
4 WBS My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. BSB BSB: My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.
5 WBS By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to my skin. BSB BSB: Through my loud groaning my skin hangs on my bones.
6 WBS I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. BSB BSB: I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
7 WBS I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top. BSB BSB: I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.
8 WBS My enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are enraged against me are sworn against me. BSB BSB: All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me.
9 WBS For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, BSB BSB: For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears
10 WBS Because of thy indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. BSB BSB: because of Your indignation and wrath, for You have picked me up and cast me aside.
11 WBS My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. BSB BSB: My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass.
12 WBS But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance to all generations. BSB BSB: But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures to all generations.
13 WBS Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, is come. BSB BSB: You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor—the appointed time has come.
14 WBS For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof. BSB BSB: For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust.
15 WBS So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD: and all the kings of the earth thy glory. BSB BSB: So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.
16 WBS When the LORD shall build up Zion, he will appear in his glory. BSB BSB: For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.
17 WBS He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. BSB BSB: He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.
18 WBS This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. BSB BSB: Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
19 WBS For he hath looked down from the hight of his sanctuary; from heaven hath the LORD beheld the earth; BSB BSB: For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary; the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth
20 WBS To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; BSB BSB: to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death,
21 WBS To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; BSB BSB: that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion and praise Him in Jerusalem,
22 WBS When the people are assembled, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. BSB BSB: when peoples and kingdoms assemble to serve the LORD.
23 WBS He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days. BSB BSB: He has broken my strength on the way; He has cut short my days.
24 WBS I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. BSB BSB: I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days! Your years go on through all generations.
26 WBS They shall perish, but thou wilt endure: yes, all of them shall grow old like a garment; as a vesture wilt thou change them, and they shall be changed: BSB BSB: They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on.
27 WBS But thou art the same, and thy years will have no end. BSB BSB: But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.
28 WBS The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee. BSB BSB: The children of Your servants will dwell securely, and their descendants will be established before You.”
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