Psalms 102

1 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.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto you.

2 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.

Hide not your face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline your ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

3 For my days have vanished like smoke, and my bones have been parched like a stick.

For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

4 I am blighted like grass, and my heart is dried up; for I have forgotten to eat my bread.

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bone has cleaved to my flesh.

By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

6 I have become like a pelican of the wilderness;

I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.

7 I have become like an owl in a ruined house. I have watched, and am become as a sparrow dwelling alone on a roof.

I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.

8 All the day long mine enemies have reproached me; and they that praised me have sworn against me.

Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

9 For I have eaten ashes as it were bread, and mingled my drink with weeping;

For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.

10 because of your anger and your wrath: for you have lifted me up, and dashed me down.

Because of your indignation and your wrath: for you have lifted me up, and cast me down.

11 My days have declined like a shadow; and I am withered like grass.

My days are like a shadow that declines; and I am withered like grass.

12 But you, Lord, endure for ever, and your memorial to generation and generation.

But you, O LORD, shall endure for ever; and your remembrance unto all generations.

13 You shall arise, and have mercy upon Sion: for [it is] time to have mercy upon her, for the set time is come.

You shall arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, has come.

14 For your servants have taken pleasure in her stones, and they shall pity her dust.

For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

15 So the nations shall fear your name, O Lord, and all kings your glory.

So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory.

16 For the Lord shall build up Sion, and shall appear in his glory.

When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

17 He has had regard to the prayer of the lowly, and has not despised their petition.

He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

18 Let this be written for another generation; and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord.

This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

19 For he has looked out from the height of his sanctuary; the Lord looked upon the earth from heaven;

For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

20 to hear the groaning of the fettered ones, to loosen the sons of the slain;

To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

21 to proclaim the name of the Lord in Sion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

22 when the people are gathered together, and the kings, to serve the Lord.

When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

23 He answered him in the way of his strength: tell me the fewness of my days.

He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.

24 Take me not away in the midst of my days: your years [are] through all generations.

I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: your years are throughout all generations.

25 In the beginning you, O Lord, did lay the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of your hands.

Of old have you laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of your hands.

26 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.

They shall perish, but you shall endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shall you change them, and they shall be changed:

27 But you are the same, and your years shall not fail.

But you are the same, and your years shall have no end.

28 The children of your servants shall dwell [securely], and their seed shall prosper for ever.

The children of your servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before you.