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102 A Prayer of the afflicted when he is feeble, and before Jehovah poureth out his plaint. O Jehovah, hear my prayer, yea, my cry to Thee cometh.

Hide not Thou Thy face from me, In a day of mine adversity, Incline unto me Thine ear, In the day I call, haste, answer me.

For consumed in smoke have been my days, And my bones as a fire-brand have burned.

Smitten as the herb, and withered, is my heart, For I have forgotten to eat my bread.

From the voice of my sighing Hath my bone cleaved to my flesh.

I have been like to a pelican of the wilderness, I have been as an owl of the dry places.

I have watched, and I am As a bird alone on the roof.

All the day mine enemies reproached me, Those mad at me have sworn against me.

Because ashes as bread I have eaten, And my drink with weeping have mingled,

10 From Thine indignation and Thy wrath, For Thou hast lifted me up, And dost cast me down.

11 My days as a shadow [are] stretched out, And I -- as the herb I am withered.

12 And Thou, O Jehovah, to the age abidest, And Thy memorial to all generations.

13 Thou -- Thou risest -- Thou pitiest Zion, For the time to favour her, For the appointed time hath come.

14 For Thy servants have been pleased with her stones, And her dust they favour.

15 And nations fear the name of Jehovah, And all kings of the earth Thine honour,

16 For Jehovah hath builded Zion, He hath been seen in His honour,

17 He turned unto the prayer of the destitute, And He hath not despised their prayer.

18 This is written for a later generation, And the people created do praise Jah.

19 For He hath looked From the high place of His sanctuary. Jehovah from heaven unto earth looked attentively,

20 To hear the groan of the prisoner, To loose sons of death,

21 To declare in Zion the name of Jehovah, And His praise in Jerusalem,

22 In the peoples being gathered together, And the kingdoms -- to serve Jehovah.

23 He hath humbled in the way my power, He hath shortened my days.

24 I say, `My God, take me not up in the midst of my days,' Through all generations [are] Thine years.

25 Beforetime the earth Thou didst found, And the work of Thy hands [are] the heavens.

26 They -- They perish, and Thou remainest, And all of them as a garment become old, As clothing Thou changest them, And they are changed.

27 And Thou [art] the same, and Thine years are not finished.

28 The sons of Thy servants do continue, And their seed before Thee is established!

Psalm 102[a]

A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.

Hear my prayer,(A) Lord;
    let my cry for help(B) come to you.
Do not hide your face(C) from me
    when I am in distress.
Turn your ear(D) to me;
    when I call, answer me quickly.

For my days vanish like smoke;(E)
    my bones(F) burn like glowing embers.
My heart is blighted and withered like grass;(G)
    I forget to eat my food.(H)
In my distress I groan aloud(I)
    and am reduced to skin and bones.
I am like a desert owl,(J)
    like an owl among the ruins.
I lie awake;(K) I have become
    like a bird alone(L) on a roof.
All day long my enemies(M) taunt me;(N)
    those who rail against me use my name as a curse.(O)
For I eat ashes(P) as my food
    and mingle my drink with tears(Q)
10 because of your great wrath,(R)
    for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like the evening shadow;(S)
    I wither(T) away like grass.

12 But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;(U)
    your renown endures(V) through all generations.(W)
13 You will arise(X) and have compassion(Y) on Zion,
    for it is time(Z) to show favor(AA) to her;
    the appointed time(AB) has come.
14 For her stones are dear to your servants;
    her very dust moves them to pity.
15 The nations will fear(AC) the name of the Lord,
    all the kings(AD) of the earth will revere your glory.
16 For the Lord will rebuild Zion(AE)
    and appear in his glory.(AF)
17 He will respond to the prayer(AG) of the destitute;
    he will not despise their plea.

18 Let this be written(AH) for a future generation,
    that a people not yet created(AI) may praise the Lord:
19 “The Lord looked down(AJ) from his sanctuary on high,
    from heaven he viewed the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners(AK)
    and release those condemned to death.”
21 So the name of the Lord will be declared(AL) in Zion
    and his praise(AM) in Jerusalem
22 when the peoples and the kingdoms
    assemble to worship(AN) the Lord.

23 In the course of my life[b] he broke my strength;
    he cut short my days.(AO)
24 So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
    your years go on(AP) through all generations.
25 In the beginning(AQ) you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens(AR) are the work of your hands.(AS)
26 They will perish,(AT) but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
    and they will be discarded.
27 But you remain the same,(AU)
    and your years will never end.(AV)
28 The children of your servants(AW) will live in your presence;
    their descendants(AX) will be established before you.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 102:1 In Hebrew texts 102:1-28 is numbered 102:2-29.
  2. Psalm 102:23 Or By his power