102 1 It seemeth that this prayer was appointeth to the faithful to pray in the captivity of Babylon. 16 A consolation for the building of the Church:   18 whereof followeth the praise of God to be published unto all posterity. 22 The conversion of the Gentiles, 28 and the stability of the Church.

A prayer [a]of the afflicted, when he shall be in distress, and pour forth his meditation before the Lord.

O Lord hear my prayer, and let my [b]cry come unto thee.

Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble: incline thine ears unto me, when I call, make haste to hear me.

For my days are [c]consumed like smoke, and my bones are burnt like an hearth.

Mine heart is smitten, and withered like grass, because I forgat [d]to eat my bread.

For the voice of my groaning, my bones do cleave to my skin.

I am like a [e]pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the deserts.

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

Mine enemies revile me daily, and they that rage against me, have [f]sworn against me.

Surely I have [g]eaten ashes as bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

10 Because of thine [h]indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast heaved me up, and cast me down.

11 My days are like a shadow that fadeth, and I am withered like grass.

12 But thou, O Lord, dost [i]remain forever, and thy remembrance from generation to generation.

13 Thou wilt arise and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to have mercy thereon, for the [j]appointed time is come.

14 For thy servants delight in the [k]stones thereof, and have pity on the dust thereof.

15 Then 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, and shall appear [l]in his glory,

17 And shall turn unto the prayer of the desolate, and not despise their prayer.

18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be [m]created, shall praise the Lord.

19 For he hath looked down from the height of his Sanctuary: out of the heaven did the Lord behold the earth,

20 That he might hear the mourning of the prisoner, and deliver the [n]children of death.

21 That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,

22 When the people shall be gathered [o]together, and the kingdoms to serve the Lord.

23 He [p]abated my strength in the way, and shortened my days.

24 And I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years endure from generation to generation.

25 Thou hast aforetime laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thine hands.

26 [q]They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: even they all shall wax old as doth a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.

27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall stand [r]fast in thy sight.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 102:1 Whereby is signified, that albeit we be in never so great miseries, yet there is ever place left for prayer.
  2. Psalm 102:1 He declareth that in our prayer we must lively feel that, which we desire, and steadfastly believe to obtain.
  3. Psalm 102:3 These excessive kinds of speech show how much the affliction of the Church ought to wound the hearts of the godly.
  4. Psalm 102:4 My sorrows were so great, that I passed not for mine ordinary food.
  5. Psalm 102:6 Ever mourning and solitary, casting out fearful cries.
  6. Psalm 102:8 Have conspired my death.
  7. Psalm 102:9 I have not risen out of my mourning to take my refection.
  8. Psalm 102:10 He showeth that the afflictions did not only thus move him, but chiefly the feeling of God’s displeasure.
  9. Psalm 102:12 Howsoever we be frail, yet thy promise is sure, and the remembrance thereof shall confirm us forever.
  10. Psalm 102:13 That is, the seventy years which by the Prophet Jeremiah thou didst appoint, Jer. 29:12.
  11. Psalm 102:14 The more that the Church is in misery and desolation, the more ought the faithful to love and pity it.
  12. Psalm 102:16 That is, when he shall have drawn his church out of the darkness of death.
  13. Psalm 102:18 The deliverance of the Church is a most excellent benefit, and therefore he compareth it to a new creation: for in their banishment the body of the Church seemed to have been dead, which by deliverance was as it were created anew.
  14. Psalm 102:20 Who now in their banishment could look for nothing but death.
  15. Psalm 102:22 He showeth that God’s Name is never more praised, than when religion flourisheth and the church increaseth: which thing is chiefly accomplished under the kingdom of Christ.
  16. Psalm 102:23 The Church laments that they see not the time of Christ, which was promised, but have but few years and short days.
  17. Psalm 102:26 If heaven and earth perish, much more man shall perish: but the Church by reason of God’s promise endureth forever.
  18. Psalm 102:28 Seeing thou hast chosen thy Church out of the world, and joined it to thee, it cannot but continue forever: for thou art everlasting.

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