Psalms

The fourth book of Psalms, song 102, New English Translation and King James Version

Psalm 102

New English Translation

The prayer of an oppressed man, as he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD.

   1 O LORD, hear my prayer! Pay attention to my cry for help!
   2 Do not ignore me in my time of trouble! Listen to me! When I call out to you, quickly answer me!
   3 For my days go up in smoke, and my bones are charred like a fireplace.
   4 My heart is parched and withered like grass, for I am unable to eat food.
   5 Because of the anxiety that makes me groan, my bones protrude from my skin.
   6 I am like an owl in the wilderness; I am like a screech owl among the ruins.
   7 I stay awake; I am like a solitary bird on a roof.
   8 All day long my enemies taunt me; those who mock me use my name in their curses.
   9 For I eat ashes as if they were bread, and mix my drink with my tears,
   10 because of your anger and raging fury. Indeed, you pick me up and throw me away.
   11 My days are coming to an end, and I am withered like grass.
   12 But you, O LORD, rule forever, and your reputation endures.
   13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion. For it is time to have mercy on her, for the appointed time has come.
   14 Indeed, your servants take delight in her stones, and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.
   15 The nations will respect the reputation of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will respect his splendor,
   16 when the LORD rebuilds Zion, and reveals his splendor,
   17 when he responds to the prayer of the destitute, and does not reject their request.
   18 The account of his intervention will be recorded for future generations; people yet to be born will praise the LORD.
   19 For he will look down from his sanctuary above; from heaven the LORD will look toward earth,
   20 in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners, and to set free those condemned to die,
   21 so they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion, and praise him in Jerusalem,
   22 when the nations gather together, and the kingdoms pay tribute to the LORD.
   23 He has taken away my strength in the middle of life; he has cut short my days.
   24 I say, "O my God, please do not take me away in the middle of my life! You endure through all generations.
   25 In earlier times you established the earth; the skies are your handiwork.
   26 They will perish, but you will endure. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear.
   27 But you remain; your years do not come to an end.
   28 The children of your servants will settle down here, and their descendants will live securely in your presence."

King James Version

A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.

   1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
   2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
   3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
   4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
   5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
   6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
   7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
   8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
   9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
   10 Because 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.
   12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
   13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
   14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
   15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
   16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
   17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
   18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
   19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
   20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
   21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
   22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
   23 He weakened my strength in the way; he 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.
   25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation 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:
   27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
   28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.