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.

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