Psalms 102
1 The prayer of the poor man, when he was anxious, and poured out his supplication before the Lord. Hear, O Lord, my prayer: and let my cry come to thee.
[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 Turn not away thy face from me: in the day when I am in trouble, incline thy ear to me. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear me speedily.
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.
3 For my days are vanished like smoke: and my bones are grown dry like fuel for the fire.
For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned like a hearth.
4 I am smitten as grass, and my heart is withered: because I forgot to eat my bread.
My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
5 Through the voice of my groaning, my bone hath cleaved to my flesh.
By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.
6 I am become like to a pelican of the wilderness: I am like a night raven in the house.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
7 I have watched, and am become as a sparrow all alone on the housetop.
I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
8 All the day long my enemies reproached me: and they that praised me did swear against me.
My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
9 For I did eat ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
10 Because of thy anger and indignation: for having lifted me up thou hast thrown me down.
Because of your indignation and your wrath, for you have taken me up, and thrown me away.
11 My days have declined like a shadow, and I am withered like grass.
My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
12 But thou, O Lord, endurest for ever: and thy memorial to all generations.
But you, LORD, will abide forever; your renown endures to all generations.
13 Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion: for it is time to have mercy on it, for the time is come.
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 the stones thereof have pleased thy servants: and they shall have pity on the earth thereof.
For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.
15 And the Gentiles shall fear thy name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
So the nations will fear the name of the LORD; all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 For the Lord hath built up Sion: and he shall be seen in his glory.
For the LORD has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
17 He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble: and he hath not despised their petition.
He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
18 Let these things be written unto another generation: and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord:
This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.
19 Because he hath looked forth from his high sanctuary: from heaven the Lord hath looked upon the earth.
For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, the LORD looked at the earth;
20 That he might hear the groans of them that are in fetters: that he might release the children of the slain:
to hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;
21 That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion: and his praise in Jerusalem;
that men may declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 When the people assemble together, and kings, to serve the Lord.
when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23 He answered him in the way of his strength: Declare unto me the fewness of my days.
He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
24 Call me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are unto generation and generation.
I said, "My God, do not take me away in the midst of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
25 In the beginning, O Lord, thou foundedst the earth: and the heavens are the works of thy hands.
In the beginning, LORD, you established the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.
26 They shall perish but thou remainest: and all of them shall grow old like a garment: And as a vesture thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed.
They will perish, but you remain; and they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.
27 But thou art always the selfsame, and thy years shall not fail.
But you are the same. Your years will have no end.
28 The children of thy servants shall continue: and their seed shall be directed for ever.
The children of your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before you."
