< Psalms 102 >
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.
A Prayer for the Poor; when he is deeply afflicted, and pours out his supplication before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to you.
2 Do not 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.
Turn not away your face from me: in the day [when] I am afflicted, incline your ear to me: in the day [when] I shall call upon you, speedily hear me.
3 For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch.
For my days have vanished like smoke, and my bones have been parched like a stick.
4 My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
I am blighted like grass, and my heart is dried up; for I have forgotten to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.
By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bone has cleaved to my flesh.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
I have become like a pelican of the wilderness;
7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
I have become like an owl in a ruined house. I have watched, and am become as a sparrow dwelling alone on a roof.
8 My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
All the day long mine enemies have reproached me; and they that praised me have sworn against me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
For I have eaten ashes as it were bread, and mingled my drink with weeping;
10 because of your indignation and your wrath; for you have taken me up and thrown me away.
because of your anger and your wrath: for you have lifted me up, and dashed me down.
11 My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
My days have declined like a shadow; and I am withered like grass.
12 But you, LORD, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations.
But you, Lord, endure for ever, and your memorial to generation and generation.
13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion, for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.
You shall arise, and have mercy upon Sion: for [it is] time to have mercy upon her, for the set time is come.
14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.
For your servants have taken pleasure in her stones, and they shall pity her dust.
15 So the nations will fear the LORD’s name, all the kings of the earth your glory.
So the nations shall fear your name, O Lord, and all kings your glory.
16 For the LORD has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
For the Lord shall build up Sion, and shall appear in his glory.
17 He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
He has had regard to the prayer of the lowly, and has not despised their petition.
18 This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise the LORD,
Let this be written for another generation; and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord.
19 for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, the LORD saw the earth,
For he has looked out from the height of his sanctuary; the Lord looked upon the earth from heaven;
20 to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death,
to hear the groaning of the fettered ones, to loosen the sons of the slain;
21 that men may declare the LORD’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,
to proclaim the name of the Lord in Sion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
when the people are gathered together, and the kings, to serve the Lord.
23 He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
He answered him in the way of his strength: tell me the fewness of my days.
24 I said, “My God, do not take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
Take me not away in the midst of my days: your years [are] through all generations.
25 Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.
In the beginning you, O Lord, did lay the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works 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.
They shall perish, but you remain: and [they all] shall wax old as a garment; and as a vesture shall you fold them, and they shall be changed.
27 But you are the same. Your years will have no end.
But you are the same, and your years shall not fail.
28 The children of your servants will continue. Their offspring will be established before you.”
The children of your servants shall dwell [securely], and their seed shall prosper for ever.