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 the afflicted when he is feeble, and before Jehovah poureth out his plaint. O Jehovah, hear my prayer, yea, my cry to Thee cometh.

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.

Hide not Thou Thy face from me, In a day of mine adversity, Incline unto me Thine ear, In the day I call, haste, answer me.

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

For consumed in smoke have been my days, And my bones as a fire-brand have burned.

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

Smitten as the herb, and withered, is my heart, For I have forgotten to eat my bread.

5 By reason of the voice of my sighing my bones cleave to my flesh.

From the voice of my sighing Hath my bone 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 been like to a pelican of the wilderness, I have been as an owl of the dry places.

7 I watch, and am become like a sparrow that is alone upon the housetop.

I have watched, and I am As a bird alone on the roof.

8 Mine enemies taunt me all the day; they that are mad against me do curse by me.

All the day mine enemies reproached me, Those mad at me have sworn against me.

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

Because ashes as bread I have eaten, And my drink with weeping have mingled,

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

From Thine indignation and Thy wrath, For Thou hast lifted me up, And dost cast me down.

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

My days as a shadow [are] stretched out, And I — as the herb I am withered.

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

And Thou, O Jehovah, to the age abidest, And Thy memorial 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.

Thou — Thou risest — Thou pitiest Zion, For the time to favour her, For the appointed time hath come.

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

For Thy servants have been pleased with her stones, And her dust they favour.

15 So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Thy glory;

And nations fear the name of Jehovah, And all kings of the earth Thine honour,

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

For Jehovah hath builded Zion, He hath been seen in His honour,

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

He turned unto the prayer of the destitute, And He hath not despised their prayer.

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

This is written for a later generation, And the people created do praise Jah.

19 For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

For He hath looked From the high place of His sanctuary. Jehovah from heaven unto earth looked attentively,

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

To hear the groan of the prisoner, To loose sons of death,

21 That men may tell of the name of the LORD in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem;

To declare in Zion the name of Jehovah, And His praise in Jerusalem,

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

In the peoples being gathered together, And the kingdoms — to serve Jehovah.

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

He hath humbled in the way my power, He hath shortened 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, 'My God, take me not up in the midst of my days,' Through all generations [are] Thine years.

25 Of old Thou didst lay the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.

Beforetime the earth Thou didst found, And the work of Thy hands [are] the heavens.

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 — They perish, and Thou remainest, And all of them as a garment become old, As clothing Thou changest them, And they are changed.

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

And Thou [art] the same, and Thine years are not finished.

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

The sons of Thy servants do continue, And their seed before Thee is established!