Psalms 102

1 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.

“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!

2 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.

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

3 For my days consume away like smoke, and my bones are burned as a firebrand.

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

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

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

5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my flesh.

By reason of my sighing, my bones cleave to my skin;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast taken me up, and cast me away.

On account 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 I am withered like grass.

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

12 But thou, O LORD, shalt abide for ever; and thy memorial unto all generations.

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

13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for it is time to have pity upon her, yea, the set time is come.

Thou wilt arise and have pity upon Zion, For the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come.

14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity upon her dust.

For thy servants take pleasure in her stones; Yea, they have a regard for her dust.

15 So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory:

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

16 For the LORD hath built up Zion, he hath appeared in his glory;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That they may declare the name of Jehovah in Zion, And his praise in Jerusalem,

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

When the nations are assembled together, And the kingdoms to serve Jehovah.

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

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

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

I say, O my God! take me not away in the midst of my days! Thy years endure through all generations.

25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

Of old hast thou laid the foundations 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 be changed;

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

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

28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

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