Psalms 102
1 [A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the LORD.] Hear my prayer, LORD. 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 Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me. Answer me quickly in the day when I call.
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 consume away like smoke. My bones are burned like a hearth.
For my days vanish in smoke, and my bones are burning like a hearth.
4 My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for 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 have become as an owl of the waste places.
I am like the pelican of the wilderness: I am become like the owl amid ruins.
7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
I watch, and I am become like a [night-]bird sitting alone upon the housetop.
8 My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
All the day my enemies reproach me: they that mock me swear by me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
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 taken me up, and thrown me away.
Because of thy indignation and thy wrath; for thou hadst lifted me up, and hast cast me down.
11 My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
My days are like a shadow that declineth; and like the herb I wither.
12 But you, LORD, will abide forever; your renown endures to all generations.
But thou, O Lord, wilt sit enthroned for ever; and thy memorial is unto all generations.
13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has 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 have pity on her dust.
For thy servants hold dear her stones, and her very dust they cherish.
15 So the nations will fear the name of the LORD; 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 For the LORD has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
When the Lord shalt have built up Zion, he appeareth in his glory;
17 He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
[When] he hath regarded the prayer of the forsaken, and doth not despise their prayer.
18 This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may 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, the LORD looked at 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 groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;
To hear the sighing of the prisoner; to loosen those that are doomed to death:
21 that men may 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 peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
When people are gathered together, and kingdoms, to serve the Lord.—
23 He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
He hath weakened on the way my strength; he hath shortened my days.
24 I said, "My God, do not take me away in the midst 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 In the beginning, LORD, you established the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works 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 will perish, but you remain; and they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will 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. Your years will have no end.
But thou art ever the same, and thy years will have no end.
28 The children of your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before you."
The children of thy servants will dwell [securely], and their seed will be firmly established before thee.
