Chapter 102

¹{A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before Jehovah.} Jehovah, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee. ²Hide not thy face from me: in the day of my trouble, incline thine ear unto me; in the day I call, answer me speedily. ³For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as a firebrand. ⁴My heart is smitten and withered like grass; yea, I have forgotten to eat my bread. ⁵By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to my flesh. ⁶I am become like the pelican of the wilderness, I am as an owl in desolate places; ⁷I watch, and am like a sparrow alone upon the housetop. ⁸Mine enemies reproach me all the day; they that are mad against me swear by me. ⁹For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, ¹⁰Because of thine indignation and thy wrath; for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. ¹¹My days are like a lengthened-out shadow, and I, I am withered like grass. ¹²But thou, Jehovah, abidest for ever, and thy memorial from generation to generation. ¹³Thou wilt rise up, thou wilt have mercy upon Zion: for it is the time to be gracious to her, for the set time is come. ¹⁴For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour her dust. ¹⁵And the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. ¹⁶When Jehovah shall build up Zion, he will appear in his glory. ¹⁷He will regard the prayer of the destitute one, and not despise their prayer. ¹⁸This shall be written for the generation to come; and a people that shall be created shall praise Jah: ¹⁹For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from the heavens hath Jehovah beheld the earth, ²⁰To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to loose those that are appointed to die; ²¹That the name of Jehovah may be declared in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem, ²²When the peoples shall be gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve Jehovah. ²³He weakened my strength in the way, he shortened my days. ²⁴I said, My God, take me not away in the midst of my days! ... Thy years are from generation to generation. ²⁵Of old hast thou founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands: ²⁶They shall perish, but thou continuest; and all of them shall grow old as a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. ²⁷But thou art the Same, and thy years shall have no end. ²⁸The children of thy servants shall abide, and their seed shall be established before thee.