Psalms 102

1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come to you.

“A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out before the Lord his complaint.” O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee.

2 Hide not your face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline your ear to me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

Hide not thy face from me on the day when I am distressed; incline unto me thy ear; on the day when I call, answer me speedily.

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

For my days vanish in smoke, and my bones are burning like a hearth.

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

Struck [by heat] like the herb and dried up is my heart; for I forget to eat my bread.

5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones stick to my skin.

Because of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my flesh.

6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.

I am like the pelican of the wilderness: I am become like the owl amid ruins.

7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone on the house top.

I watch, and I am become like a [night-]bird sitting alone upon the housetop.

8 My enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

All the day my enemies reproach me: they that mock me swear by me.

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

For ashes do I eat like bread, and my drink I mingle with weeping;

10 Because of your indignation and your wrath: for you have lifted me up, and cast me down.

Because of thy indignation and thy wrath; for thou hadst lifted me up, and hast cast me down.

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

My days are like a shadow that declineth; and like the herb I wither.

12 But you, O LORD, shall endure for ever; and your remembrance to all generations.

But thou, O Lord, wilt sit enthroned for ever; and thy memorial is unto all generations.

13 You shall arise, and have mercy on Zion: for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, is come.

Thou wilt indeed arise; thou wilt have mercy upon Zion; for it is time to favor her, for the appointed time is coming.

14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof.

For thy servants hold dear her stones, and her very dust they cherish.

15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory.

Then shall nations fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory:

16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

When the Lord shalt have built up Zion, he appeareth in his glory;

17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

[When] he hath regarded the prayer of the forsaken, and doth not despise their prayer.

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

This shall be written down for the latest generation; and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.

19 For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; the Lord hath cast from heaven his view to the earth:

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

To hear the sighing of the prisoner; to loosen those that are doomed to death:

21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

That men may proclaim in Zion the name of the Lord, and his praise in Jerusalem;

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

When people are gathered together, and kingdoms, to serve the Lord.—

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

He hath weakened on the way my strength; he hath shortened my days.

24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the middle of my days: your years are throughout all generations.

I will say, O my God! take me not away in the midst of my days: throughout all generations are thy years.

25 Of old have you laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of your hands.

In olden times didst thou lay the foundations of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

26 They shall perish, but you shall endure: yes, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a clothing shall you change them, and they shall be changed:

These will indeed perish, but thou wilt ever exist: yea, all of them will wear out like a garment; as a vesture wilt thou change them, and they will be changed;

27 But you are the same, and your years shall have no end.

But thou art ever the same, and thy years will have no end.

28 The children of your servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before you.

The children of thy servants will dwell [securely], and their seed will be firmly established before thee.