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 to thee.

The prayer: for a weary and suffering person who pours out their grief to the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you.

2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thy ear to me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me: when I call, answer me speedily.

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

For my days pass away like smoke: my bones are burned through as with fire.

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

My heart is scorched, withered like grass; I forget to eat my bread.

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

By reason of my loud groaning, my flesh clings to my bones.

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

Like a desert-owl of the wilderness, like an owl among ruins am I.

7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the housetop.

I make my sleepless lament like a bird on the house-top alone.

8 My enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

All the day wild foes revile me, using my name for a curse.

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

For ashes have been my bread, and tears have been mixed with my cup.

10 Because of thy indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

Because of your passionate anger, you did raise me, then hurl me to the ground.

11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

My days come to an end, shadows lengthen, I wither like grass.

12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance to all generations.

But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever, your fame endures to all generations.

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

You will arise and have pity on Zion; it’s time to be gracious; her hour has come.

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

For even her stones are dear to your servants, even the dust of her ruins they look on with love.

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

Then the nations will revere the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth his glory,

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

when the Lord shall have built up Zion, and revealed himself in his glory,

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

in response to the prayer of the destitute, whose prayer he will not despise.

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

Let this be recorded for ages to come, that the Lord may be praised by a people yet unborn.

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

For he shall look down from his holy height, from the heavens the Lord will gaze on the earth,

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

to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are doomed to die;

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

that people may recount the Lord’s fame in Zion, and the praise of him in Jerusalem,

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

when the nations are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to worship the Lord.

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

He has broken my strength on the way, he has 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 will say, “My God, take me not hence in the midst of my days. “Your years endure age after age.

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

Of old you have founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall grow old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

They shall perish; but you do stand. They shall all wax old like a garment, and change as a robe you will change them.

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

But you are the same, your years are endless.

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

The children of your servants abide, evermore shall their seed be before you.”