Chapter text
World English Bible
Verse-by-verse text with stable anchors, canonical chapter URLs, and copyable verse links.
- 1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, LORD! Let my cry come to you.
- 2 Don’t hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me. Answer me quickly in the day when I call.
- 3 For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch.
- 4 My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
- 5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.
- 6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
- 7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
- 8 My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
- 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
- 10 because of your indignation and your wrath; for you have taken me up and thrown me away.
- 11 My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
- 12 But you, LORD, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations.
- 13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion, for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.
- 14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.
- 15 So the nations will fear the LORD’s name, all the kings of the earth your glory.
- 16 For the LORD has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
- 17 He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
- 18 This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise the LORD,
- 19 for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, the LORD saw the earth,
- 20 to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death,
- 21 that men may declare the LORD’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,
- 22 when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
- 23 He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
- 24 I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
- 25 Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.
- 26 They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.
- 27 But you are the same. Your years will have no end.
- 28 The children of your servants will continue. Their offspring will be established before you.”