Chapter 102

A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed,⁴ and poureth out⁴ his complaint before the LORD.
Hear³ my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come⁴ unto thee.

Hide⁵⁵ not thy face from me in the day [when] I am in trouble; incline⁵⁴ thine ear unto me: in the day [when] I call⁴ answer³ me speedily.

For my days are consumed¹ like smoke, and my bones are burned⁸ as an hearth.

My heart is smitten,⁹⁰ and withered⁴ like grass; so that I forget¹ to eat² my bread.

By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave¹ to my skin.

I am like¹ a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.

I watch,¹ and am as a sparrow alone⁶ upon the house top.

Mine enemies⁶ reproach¹⁴ me all the day; [and] they that are mad²⁶ against me are sworn⁸ against me.

For I have eaten¹ ashes like bread, and mingled¹ my drink with weeping,

Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up,¹ and cast me down.⁵⁵

My days [are] like a shadow that declineth;⁷ and I am withered⁴ like grass.

But thou, O LORD, shalt endure⁴ for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.

Thou shalt arise,⁴ [and] have mercy¹⁷ upon Zion: for the time to favour² her, yea, the set time, is come.¹

For thy servants take pleasure¹ in her stones, and favour²⁵ the dust thereof.

So the heathen shall fear⁴ the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

When the LORD shall build up¹ Zion, he shall appear⁸ in his glory.

He will regard¹ the prayer of the destitute, and not despise¹ their prayer.

This shall be written¹¹ for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created¹² shall praise¹⁷ the LORD.

For he hath looked down⁵² from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold⁵² the earth;

To hear² the groaning of the prisoner; to loose¹⁵ those that are appointed to death;

To declare¹⁵ the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

When the people are gathered⁹ together, and the kingdoms, to serve² the LORD.

He weakened¹⁴ my strength in the way; he shortened¹⁴ my days.

I said,⁴ O my God, take me not away⁵⁵ in the midst of my days: thy years [are] throughout all generations.

Of old hast thou laid the foundation¹ of the earth: and the heavens [are] the work of thy hands.

They shall perish,⁴ but thou shalt endure:⁴ yea, all of them shall wax old⁴ like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change⁵⁵ them, and they shall be changed:⁴

But thou [art] the same, and thy years shall have no end.¹¹

The children of thy servants shall continue,⁴ and their seed shall be established¹¹ before thee.