Psalms 102
1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he fainteth, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. O LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto Thee.
A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You.
2 Hide not Thy face from me in the day of my distress; incline Thine ear unto me; in the day when I call answer me speedily.
Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.
3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as a hearth.
For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
4 My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; for I forget to eat my bread.
My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my sighing my bones cleave to my flesh.
Through my loud groaning my flesh clings to my bones.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste places.
I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
7 I watch, and am become like a sparrow that is alone upon the housetop.
I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.
8 Mine enemies taunt me all the day; they that are mad against me do curse by me.
All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me.
9 For I have eaten 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 Thine indignation and Thy wrath; for Thou hast taken me up, and cast me away.
because of Your indignation and wrath, for You have picked me up and cast me aside.
11 My days are like a lengthening shadow; and I am withered like grass.
My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass.
12 But Thou, O LORD, sittest enthroned for ever; and Thy name is unto all generations.
But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures to all generations.
13 Thou wilt arise, and have compassion upon Zion; for it is time to be gracious unto her, for the appointed time is come.
You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor— the appointed time has come.
14 For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and love her dust.
For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust.
15 So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Thy glory;
So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.
16 When the LORD hath built up Zion, when He hath appeared in His glory;
For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.
17 When He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, and hath not despised their prayer.
He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.
18 This shall be written for the generation to come; and a people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
19 For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary; the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death,
21 That men may tell of the name of the LORD in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem;
that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion and praise Him in Jerusalem,
22 When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
when peoples and kingdoms assemble to serve the LORD.
23 He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days.
He has broken my strength on the way; He has cut short my days.
24 I say: 'O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days, Thou whose years endure throughout all generations.
I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days! Your years go on through all generations.
25 Of old Thou didst lay the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.
In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 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 pass away;
They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on.
27 But Thou art the selfsame, and Thy years shall have no end.
But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.
28 The children of Thy servants shall dwell securely, and their seed shall be established before Thee.'
The children of Your servants will dwell securely, and their descendants will be established before You.”
