Psalms 102

1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, 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 you.

2 Hide not thy face from me in the day [when] I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day [when] I call answer me speedily.

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

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

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

4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that 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 groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

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 like an owl of the desert.

I have become like a pelican of the wilderness;

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

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 reproach me all the day; [and] they that are mad against me are sworn against 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 lifted me up, and cast me down.

because of your anger and your wrath: for you have lifted me up, and dashed me down.

11 My days [are] like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

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

12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.

But you, Lord, endure for ever, and your memorial to generation and generation.

13 Thou shalt arise, [and] have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

You shall 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 favour the dust thereof.

For your servants have taken pleasure in her stones, and they shall pity her dust.

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

So the nations shall fear your name, O Lord, and all kings your glory.

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

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

17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise 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 the 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 To declare 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 people 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 said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years [are] throughout all generations.

Take me not away in the midst of my days: your years [are] through all generations.

25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens [are] the work of thy hands.

In the beginning you, O Lord, did lay the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works 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 be changed:

They shall perish, but you remain: and [they all] shall wax old as a garment; and as a vesture shall you fold them, and they shall be changed.

27 But thou [art] the same, and thy years shall have no end.

But you are the same, and your years shall not fail.

28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

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