ISV(i)
1 A prayer by the afflicted man who is overwhelmed and talks about his troubles with the LORD.
A Prayer for Help LORD, hear my prayer! May my cry for help come to you.
2 Do not hide your face from me when I am in trouble. Listen to me. When I call to out you, hurry to answer me!
3 For my days are vanishing like smoke; my bones are charred as in a fireplace.
4 Withered like grass, my heart is overwhelmed, and I have even forgotten to eat my food.
5 Because of the sound of my sighing, my bones cling to my skin.
6 I resemble a pelican in the wilderness or an owl in a desolate land.
7 I lie awake, yet I am like a bird isolated on a rooftop.
8 My enemies revile me all day long; those who ridicule me use my name to curse.
9 I have eaten ashes as food and mixed my drink with tears
10 because of your indignation and wrath, when you lifted and threw me away.
11 My life is like a declining shadow, and I am withering like a plant.
12 But you, LORD, are enthroned forever; You are remembered throughout all generations.
13 You will arise to extend compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor— the appointed time has come.
14 Your servants take pleasure in its stones and delight in its debris.
15 Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth, your splendor.
16 When the LORD rebuilds Zion, he will appear in his glory.
17 He will turn to the prayer of the destitute, not despising their prayer.
18 Write this for the next generation, that a people yet to be created will praise the LORD.
19 For when he looked down from his holy heights— the LORD looked over the earth from heaven—
20 to listen to the groans of prisoners, to set free those condemned to death,
21 so they would declare the name of the LORD in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem,
22 when people and kingdoms gather together to serve the LORD.
23 He has weakened my strength along the way. He has cut short my days.
24 I say, “My God, whose years continue through all generations, do not take me in the middle of my life.
25 You established the earth long ago; the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will remain; and they all will become worn out, like a garment. You will change them like clothing, and they will pass away.
27 But you remain the same; your years never end.
28 May the descendants of your servants live securely, and may their children be established in your presence.”
103 1Davidic
Praise God, who Forgives Bless the LORD, my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, my soul, and never forget any of his benefits:
3 He continues to forgive all your sins, he continues to heal all your diseases,
4 he continues to redeem your life from the Pit, and he continuously surrounds you with gracious love and compassion.
5 He keeps satisfying you with good things, and he keeps renewing your youth like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD continuously does what is right, executing justice for all who are being oppressed.
7 He revealed his plans to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, patient, and abundantly rich in gracious love.
9 He does not maintain a dispute continuously or remain angry for all time.
10 He neither deals with us according to our sins, nor repays us equivalent to our iniquity.
11 As high as heaven rises above earth, so his gracious love strengthens those who fear him.
12 As distant as the east is from the west, that is how far he has removed our sins from us.
13 As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.
14 For he knows how we were formed, aware that we were made from dust.
15 A person’s life is like grass— it blossoms like wild flowers,
16 but when the wind blows through it, it withers away and no one remembers where it was.
17 Yet the LORD’s gracious love remains throughout eternity for those who fear him and his righteous acts extend to their children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant and to those who remember to observe his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, you angels who belong to him, you mighty warriors who carry out his commands, who are obedient to the sound of his words.
21 Bless the LORD, all his heavenly armies, his ministers who do his will.
22 Bless the LORD, all his creation, in all the places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, my soul.
104 1Davidic
Praise God, who Creates Bless the LORD, my soul; LORD, my God, you are very great. You are clothed in splendor and majesty;
2 you are wrapped in light like a garment, stretching out the sky like a curtain.
3 He lays the beams of his roof loft on the water above, making clouds his chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes the winds his messengers, blazing fires his servants.
A Prayer for Help
103 1
Praise God, who Forgives
104 1
Praise God, who Creates