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 poor man, when he was anxious, and poured out his supplication before the Lord. Hear, O Lord, my prayer: and let my cry come to thee.
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.
Turn not away thy face from me: in the day when I am in trouble, incline thy ear to me. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear me speedily.
3 For my days vanish in smoke, and my bones are burning like a hearth.
For my days are vanished like smoke: and my bones are grown dry like fuel for the fire.
4 Struck [by heat] like the herb and dried up is my heart; for I forget to eat my bread.
I am smitten as grass, and my heart is withered: because I forgot to eat my bread.
5 Because of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my flesh.
Through the voice of my groaning, my bone hath cleaved to my flesh.
6 I am like the pelican of the wilderness: I am become like the owl amid ruins.
I am become like to a pelican of the wilderness: I am like a night raven in the house.
7 I watch, and I am become like a [night-]bird sitting alone upon the housetop.
I have watched, and am become as a sparrow all alone on the housetop.
8 All the day my enemies reproach me: they that mock me swear by me.
All the day long my enemies reproached me: and they that praised me did swear against me.
9 For ashes do I eat like bread, and my drink I mingle with weeping;
For I did eat ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.
10 Because of thy indignation and thy wrath; for thou hadst lifted me up, and hast cast me down.
Because of thy anger and indignation: for having lifted me up thou hast thrown 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 am withered like grass.
12 But thou, O Lord, wilt sit enthroned for ever; and thy memorial is unto all generations.
But thou, O Lord, endurest for ever: and thy memorial to all generations.
13 Thou wilt indeed arise; thou wilt have mercy upon Zion; for it is time to favor her, for the appointed time is coming.
Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion: for it is time to have mercy on it, for the time is come.
14 For thy servants hold dear her stones, and her very dust they cherish.
For the stones thereof have pleased thy servants: and they shall have pity on the earth thereof.
15 Then shall nations fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory:
And the Gentiles shall fear thy name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16 When the Lord shalt have built up Zion, he appeareth in his glory;
For the Lord hath built up Sion: and he shall be seen in his glory.
17 [When] he hath regarded the prayer of the forsaken, and doth not despise their prayer.
He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble: and he hath 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 unto 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; the Lord hath cast from heaven his view to the earth:
Because he hath looked forth from his high sanctuary: from heaven the Lord hath looked upon the earth.
20 To hear the sighing of the prisoner; to loosen those that are doomed to death:
That he might hear the groans of them that are in fetters: that he might release the children of the slain:
21 That men may proclaim in Zion the name of the Lord, and his praise in Jerusalem;
That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion: and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 When people are gathered together, and kingdoms, to serve the Lord.—
When the people assemble together, and kings, to serve the Lord.
23 He hath weakened on the way my strength; he hath shortened my days.
He answered him in the way of his strength: Declare unto me the fewness 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.
Call me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are unto generation and 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, thou foundedst the earth: and the heavens are the works of thy 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 shall perish but thou remainest: and all of them shall grow old like a garment: And as a vesture thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed.
27 But thou art ever the same, and thy years will have no end.
But thou art always the selfsame, and thy years shall not fail.
28 The children of thy servants will dwell [securely], and their seed will be firmly established before thee.
The children of thy servants shall continue: and their seed shall be directed for ever.
