Psalm 102:1-28
A prayer of the afflicted in case he grows feeble and pours out his concern before Jehovah himself.+
102 O Jehovah, do hear my prayer;+And to you may my own cry for help come.+
2 Do not conceal your face from me on the day that I am in sore straits.+Incline to me your ear;+On the day that I call, hurry, answer me.+
3 For my days have come to an end just like smoke,+And my very bones have been made red-hot just like a fireplace.+
4 My heart has been struck just like vegetation and is dried up,+For I have forgotten to eat my food.*+
5 Because of the sound of my sighing+My bones have stuck to my flesh.+
6 I do resemble the pelican of the wilderness.+I have become like a little owl of desolated places.
7 I have grown emaciated,*And I am become like a bird isolated upon a roof.+
8 All day long my enemies have reproached me.+Those making a fool of me have sworn even by me.+
9 For I have eaten ashes themselves just like bread;+And the things I drink I have mingled even with weeping,+
10 Because of your denunciation and your indignation;+For you have lifted me up, that you might throw me away.+
11 My days are like a shadow that has declined,*+And I myself am dried up like mere vegetation.+
12 As for you, O Jehovah, to time indefinite you will dwell,+And your memorial will be for generation after generation.+
13 You yourself will arise, you will have mercy on Zion,+For it is the season to be favorable to her,For the appointed time has come.+
14 For your servants have found pleasure in her stones,+And to her dust they direct their favor.+
15 And the nations will fear the name of Jehovah,*+And all the kings of the earth your glory.+
16 For Jehovah* will certainly build up Zion;+He must appear in his glory.+
17 He will certainly turn to the prayer of those stripped [of everything],+And not despise their prayer.+
18 This is written for the future generation;+And the people that is to be created will praise Jah.*+
19 For he has looked down from his holy height,+From the very heavens Jehovah* himself has looked even at the earth,+
20 To hear the sighing of the prisoner,+To loosen those appointed to death;*+
21 For the name of Jehovah* to be declared* in Zion+And his praise in Jerusalem,+
22 When the peoples are collected all together,+And the kingdoms to serve* Jehovah.+
23 On the way he afflicted my power,+He cut short my days.+
24 I proceeded to say: “O my God,*Do not take me off at the half of my days;+Your years are throughout all generations.*+
25 Long ago you laid the foundations of the earth itself,+And the heavens are the work of your hands.+
26 They themselves will perish, but you yourself will keep standing;*+And just like a garment they will all of them wear out.+Just like clothing you will replace them, and they will finish their turn.+
27 But you are the same,* and your own years will not be completed.+
28 The sons of your servants will continue residing;+And before you their own offspring will be firmly established.”+
Footnotes
^ Lit., “bread.”
^ Possibly, “I have kept awake,” by another derivation of the Heb. verb.
^ “My own days have declined just like a shadow,” LXXSyVg and by a slight correction of M.
^ See App 1C §8.
^ See App 1C §8.
^ See 68:4 ftn.
^ See App 1C §8.
^ Lit., “the sons of death.”
^ See App 1C §8.
^ Lit., “to declare the name of Jehovah.”
^ Or, “to worship (render sacred service).” Heb., la·ʽavodhʹ.
^ “O my God.” Heb., ʼE·liʹ.
^ Lit., “in (throughout) the generation of generations.”
^ Lit., “you are he.”
