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 fainteth, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. 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 in the day of my distress; incline Thine ear unto me; in 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 are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as a hearth.

4 My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.

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

5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.

By reason of the voice of my sighing 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 a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste places.

7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.

I watch, and am become like a sparrow that is alone upon the housetop.

8 My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.

Mine enemies taunt me all the day; they that are mad against me do curse by me.

9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,

For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

10 Because of your indignation and your wrath, for you have taken me up, and thrown me away.

Because of Thine indignation and Thy wrath; for Thou hast taken me up, and cast me away.

11 My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.

My days are like a lengthening shadow; and I am withered like grass.

12 But you, LORD, will abide forever; your renown endures to all generations.

But Thou, O LORD, sittest enthroned for ever; and Thy name 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 arise, and have compassion upon Zion; for it is time to be gracious unto her, for the appointed time is come.

14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.

For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and love her dust.

15 So the nations will fear the name of the LORD; all the kings of the earth your glory.

So the nations will 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 hath built up Zion, when He hath appeared 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 destitute, and hath not despised 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 for the generation to come; and a 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; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

20 to hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;

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

21 that men may declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

That men may tell of the name of the LORD in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem;

22 when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

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

23 He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.

He weakened my strength in the way; He 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 say: 'O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days, Thou whose years endure throughout all generations.

25 In the beginning, LORD, you established the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.

Of old Thou didst lay the foundation 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.

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 pass away;

27 But you are the same. Your years will have no end.

But Thou art the selfsame, and Thy years shall have no end.

28 The children of your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before you."

The children of Thy servants shall dwell securely, and their seed shall be established before Thee.'