Psalms 102
1 “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.
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 on the day when I am distressed; incline unto me thy ear; on 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 vanish in smoke, and my bones are burning like a hearth.
For my days have faded away like smoke, and my bones have dried out like firewood.
4 Struck [by heat] like the herb and dried up is my heart; 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 Because of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my flesh.
Before the voice of my groaning, my bone has adhered to my flesh.
6 I am like the pelican of the wilderness: I am become like the owl amid ruins.
I have become like a pelican in solitude. I have become like a night raven in a house.
7 I watch, and I am become like a [night-]bird sitting alone upon the housetop.
I have kept vigil, and I have become like a solitary sparrow on a roof.
8 All the day my enemies reproach me: they that mock me swear by me.
All day long my enemies reproached me, and those who praised me swore oaths against me.
9 For ashes do I eat like bread, and my drink I mingle with weeping;
For I chewed on ashes like bread, and I mixed weeping into my drink.
10 Because of thy indignation and thy wrath; for thou hadst lifted me up, and hast cast me down.
By the face of your anger and indignation, you lifted me up and threw me down.
11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and like the herb I wither.
My days have declined like a shadow, and I have dried out like hay.
12 But thou, O Lord, wilt sit enthroned for ever; and thy memorial is unto all generations.
But you, O Lord, endure for eternity, and your memorial is from generation to generation.
13 Thou wilt indeed arise; thou wilt have mercy upon Zion; for it is time to favor her, for the appointed time is coming.
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 hold dear her stones, and her very dust they cherish.
For its stones have pleased your servants, and they will take pity on its land.
15 Then shall nations 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 shalt have built up Zion, he appeareth 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 forsaken, and doth not despise their prayer.
He has noticed the prayer of the humble, and he has not despised their petition.
18 This shall be written down for the latest generation; and the 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; the Lord hath cast from heaven his view to the earth:
For he has gazed from his high sanctuary. From heaven, the Lord has beheld the earth.
20 To hear the sighing of the prisoner; to loosen those that are doomed 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 proclaim in Zion the name of the Lord, and his praise in Jerusalem;
So may they announce the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem:
22 When people are gathered together, and kingdoms, to serve the Lord.—
while the people convene, along with kings, in order that they may serve the Lord.
23 He hath weakened on the way my strength; he hath shortened my days.
He responded to him in the way of his virtue: Declare to me the brevity of my days.
24 I will say, O my God! take me not away in the midst of my days: throughout all generations are thy years.
Do not call me back in the middle of my days: your years are from generation to generation.
25 In olden times didst thou lay the foundations 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 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;
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 ever the same, and thy years will have no end.
Yet you are ever yourself, and your years will not decline.
28 The children of thy servants will dwell [securely], and their seed will be firmly established before thee.
The sons of your servants will live, and their offspring will be guided aright in every age.
