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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

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

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

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

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

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

Mine enemies reproach me all the day; [and] they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

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

For I have eaten 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 thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

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

My days [are] like a shadow that declineth; 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, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto 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 upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

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

For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which 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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened 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.

I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years [are] throughout all generations.

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

Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens [are] the work 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 shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

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

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

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 established before thee.