Chapter Text
102:1 A Prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and pours out his complaint before Yahweh. O Yahweh, hear my prayer! And let my cry for help come to You.
102:2 Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress; Incline Your ear to me; In the day when I call answer me quickly.
102:3 For my days have vanished in smoke, And my bones have been scorched like a hearth.
102:4 My heart has been stricken like grass and it has dried up, Indeed, I forget to eat my bread.
102:5 Because of the sound of my groaning My bones cling to my flesh.
102:6 I resemble a pelican of the wilderness; I have become like an owl of the waste places.
102:7 I lie awake, I have become like a lonely bird on a roof.
102:8 My enemies have reproached me all day long; Those who ridicule me swear against me.
102:9 For I have eaten ashes like bread And mixed my drinks with weeping
102:10 Because of Your indignation and Your wrath, For You have lifted me up and cast me away.
102:11 My days are like an outstretched shadow, And as for me, I dry up like grass.
102:12 But You, O Yahweh, abide forever, And the remembrance of Your name from generation to generation.
102:13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion— For it is time to be gracious to it, For the appointed time has come.
102:14 For Your slaves find pleasure in its stones And show grace to its dust—
102:15 So the nations will fear the name of Yahweh And all the kings of the earth Your glory.
102:16 For Yahweh has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory.
102:17 He has turned toward the prayer of the destitute And has not despised their prayer.
102:18 This will be written for the generation to come, And a people yet to be created will praise Yah.
102:19 For He looked down from His holy height; From heaven Yahweh gazed upon the earth,
102:20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To set free those who were doomed to death,
102:21 To recount the name of Yahweh in Zion And His praise in Jerusalem,
102:22 When the peoples are gathered together, And the kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.
102:23 He has afflicted my strength in the way; He has shortened my days.
102:24 I say, “O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days, Your years are from generation to all generations.
102:25 Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
102:26 Even they will perish, but You will remain; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.
102:27 But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.
102:28 The children of Your slaves will dwell securely, And their seed will be established before You.”