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 of the afflicted, when in deep distress he poureth out his complaint before the Lord.” Hear my prayer, O LORD! And let my cry come unto thee!
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.
Hide not thy face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline thine ear to me when I call! Answer me speedily!
3 For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch.
For my life is consumed like smoke, And my bones burn like a brand.
4 My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
My heart is smitten and withered like grass; Yea, I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.
By reason of my sighing, my bones cleave to my skin;
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
I am like the pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl amid ruins.
7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
I am sleepless; I am like a solitary bird upon the house-top.
8 My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
All the day long my enemies reproach me; They who rage against me curse by me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
For I eat ashes like bread, And mingle my drink with tears.
10 because of your indignation and your wrath; for you have taken me up and thrown me away.
On account of thine indignation and thy wrath; For thou hast lifted me up and cast me down!
11 My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
My life is like a declining shadow, And I wither like grass.
12 But you, LORD, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations.
But thou, O LORD! endurest for ever, And thy name from generation to 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.
Thou wilt arise and have pity upon Zion, For the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come.
14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.
For thy servants take pleasure in her stones; Yea, they have a regard for her dust.
15 So the nations will fear the LORD’s name, all the kings of the earth your glory.
Then shall the nations fear the name of Jehovah, And all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16 For the LORD has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
For Jehovah will build up Zion; He will appear in his glory.
17 He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
He will regard the prayer of the destitute, And not despise their supplication.
18 This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise the LORD,
This shall be written for the generation to come, That the people to be born may praise Jehovah.
19 for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, the LORD saw the earth,
For he looketh down from his holy height, From heaven doth he cast his eye upon the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death,
To listen to the sighs of the prisoner. To release those that are doomed to death;
21 that men may declare the LORD’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,
That they may declare the name of Jehovah in Zion, And his praise in Jerusalem,
22 when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
When the nations are assembled together, And the kingdoms to serve Jehovah.
23 He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
He hath weakened my strength on the way, He hath shortened my days.
24 I said, “My God, do not take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
I say, O my God! take me not away in the midst of my days! Thy years endure through all generations.
25 Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.
Of old hast thou laid the foundations of the earth, And the heavens are the work of thy 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 thou shalt endure; Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; As a vesture shalt thou change them, And they shall be changed;
27 But you are the same. Your years will have no end.
But thou art the same, And thy years have no end.
28 The children of your servants will continue. Their offspring will be established before you.”
The children of thy servants shall dwell securely, And their posterity shall be established before thee.
