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.
The prayer of the pauper, when he was anxious, and so he poured out his petition in the sight of the Lord. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my outcry reach 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 turn your face away from me. In whatever day that I am in trouble, incline your ear to me. In whatever day that I will call upon you, heed me quickly.
3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as a hearth.
For my days have faded away like smoke, and my bones have dried out like firewood.
4 My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; for I forget to eat my bread.
I have been cut down like hay, and my heart has withered, for I had forgotten to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my sighing my bones cleave to my flesh.
Before the voice of my groaning, my bone has adhered 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 in solitude. I have become like a night raven in a house.
7 I watch, and am become like a sparrow that is alone upon the housetop.
I have kept vigil, and I have become like a solitary sparrow on a roof.
8 Mine enemies taunt me all the day; they that are mad against me do curse by me.
All day long my enemies reproached me, and those who praised me swore oaths against me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
For I chewed on ashes like bread, and I mixed weeping into my drink.
10 Because of Thine indignation and Thy wrath; for Thou hast taken me up, and cast me away.
By the face of your anger and indignation, you lifted me up and threw 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 have dried out like hay.
12 But Thou, O LORD, sittest enthroned for ever; and Thy name is unto all generations.
But you, O Lord, endure for eternity, and your memorial is from generation to 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.
You will rise up and take pity on Zion, for it is time for its mercy, for the time has come.
14 For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and love her dust.
For its stones have pleased your servants, and they will take pity on its land.
15 So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Thy glory;
And the Gentiles will fear your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 When the LORD hath built up Zion, when He hath appeared in His glory;
For the Lord has built up Zion, and he will be seen in his glory.
17 When He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, and hath not despised their prayer.
He has noticed the prayer of the humble, and he 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 these things be written in another generation, and the people who will be created will 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 gazed from his high sanctuary. From heaven, the Lord has beheld the earth.
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
So may he hear the groans of those in shackles, in order that he may release the sons of the slain.
21 That men may tell of the name of the LORD in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem;
So may they announce the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem:
22 When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
while the people convene, along with kings, in order that they may serve the Lord.
23 He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days.
He responded to him in the way of his virtue: Declare to me the brevity 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.
Do not call me back in the middle of my days: your years are from generation to generation.
25 Of old Thou didst lay the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.
In the beginning, O Lord, you founded 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. And all will grow old like a garment. And, like a blanket, you will change them, and they will be changed.
27 But Thou art the selfsame, and Thy years shall have no end.
Yet you are ever yourself, and your years will not decline.
28 The children of Thy servants shall dwell securely, and their seed shall be established before Thee.'
The sons of your servants will live, and their offspring will be guided aright in every age.
