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 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 thee.

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.

Turn not away thy face from me: in the day [when] I am afflicted, incline thine ear to me: in the day [when] I shall call upon thee, speedily hear me.

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

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

4 My heart is smitten 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 sighing my bones cleave to my flesh.

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 am become as an owl of the waste places.

I have become like a pelican of the wilderness;

7 I watch, and am become like a sparrow that is alone upon 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 Mine enemies taunt me all the day; they that are mad against me do curse by me.

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 mingled my drink with weeping,

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

10 Because of Thine indignation and Thy wrath; for Thou hast taken me up, and cast me away.

because of thine anger and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and dashed me down.

11 My days are like a lengthening shadow; and I am withered like grass.

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

12 But Thou, O LORD, sittest enthroned for ever; and Thy name is unto all generations.

But thou, Lord, endurest for ever, and thy memorial to generation and generation.

13 Thou wilt arise, and have compassion upon Zion; for it is time to be gracious unto her, for the appointed time is come.

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

14 For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and love her dust.

For thy servants have taken pleasure in her stones, and they shall pity 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 shall fear thy name, O Lord, and all kings thy glory.

16 When the LORD hath built up Zion, when He hath appeared in His glory;

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

17 When He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, and hath not despised their prayer.

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

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 another generation; and the people that shall be created shall 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 has looked out from the height of his sanctuary; the Lord looked upon the earth from heaven;

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

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

21 That men may tell of the name of the LORD 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, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

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

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

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

Take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years [are] 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 thou, O Lord, didst lay the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine 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 shall perish, but thou remainest: and [they all] shall wax old as a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them, and they shall be changed.

27 But Thou art the selfsame, and Thy years shall have no end.

But thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

28 The children of Thy servants shall dwell securely, and their seed shall be established before Thee.'

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