Psalms 102

1 “A prayer of the afflicted, when in deep distress he poureth out his complaint before the Lord.” Hear my prayer, O LORD! And let my cry come unto thee!

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 Hide not thy face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline thine ear to me when I call! Answer me speedily!

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 life is consumed like smoke, And my bones burn like a brand.

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

4 My heart is smitten and withered like grass; Yea, 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 my sighing, my bones cleave to my skin;

By reason of the voice of my sighing my bones cleave to my flesh.

6 I am like the pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl amid ruins.

I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste places.

7 I am sleepless; I am like a solitary bird upon the house-top.

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

8 All the day long my enemies reproach me; They who rage against me curse by me.

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

9 For I eat ashes like bread, And mingle my drink with tears.

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

10 On account of thine indignation and thy wrath; For thou hast lifted me up and cast me down!

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

11 My life is like a declining shadow, And I wither like grass.

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

12 But thou, O LORD! endurest for ever, And thy name from generation to generation!

But Thou, O LORD, sittest enthroned for ever; and Thy name is unto all generations.

13 Thou wilt arise and have pity upon Zion, For the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is 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 thy servants take pleasure in her stones; Yea, they have a regard for her dust.

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

15 Then shall the nations fear the name of Jehovah, And all the kings of the earth thy glory.

So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Thy glory;

16 For Jehovah will build up Zion; He will appear in his glory.

When the LORD hath built up Zion, when He hath appeared in His glory;

17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, And not despise their supplication.

When He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, and hath not despised their prayer.

18 This shall be written for the generation to come, That the people to be born may praise Jehovah.

This shall be written for the generation to come; and a people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

19 For he looketh down from his holy height, From heaven doth he cast his eye upon the earth,

For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

20 To listen to the sighs of the prisoner. To release those that are doomed to death;

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

21 That they may declare the name of Jehovah 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 nations are assembled together, And the kingdoms to serve Jehovah.

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

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

He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days.

24 I say, O my God! take me not away in the midst of my days! Thy years endure through 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 Of old hast thou laid the foundations of the earth, And the heavens are the work of thy hands;

Of old Thou didst lay the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.

26 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;

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 thou art the same, And thy years have no end.

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

28 The children of thy servants shall dwell securely, And their posterity shall be established before thee.

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