Psalms 102

The afflicted psalmist pours out his complaint, describing his days vanishing like smoke and his body wasting away in lonely grief. Yet he turns from his suffering to God's eternal throne, trusting that the LORD will rebuild Zion, appear in glory, and show compassion on a future generation.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.	Hear my prayer, LORD; let my cry for help come to You.
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.	Do not hide Your face from me when I am in distress. Turn Your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.
3	For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.	For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.
4	My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.	My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.
5	By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.	In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones.
6	I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.	I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
7	I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.	I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a rooftop.
8	Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.	All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
9	For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.	For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears
10	Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.	because of Your great wrath, for You have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11	My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.	My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
12	But thou, O LORD, shall endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.	But You, LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures through all generations.
13	Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.	You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.
14	For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.	For her stones are dear to Your servants; her very dust moves them to pity.
15	So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.	The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere Your glory.
16	When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.	For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in His glory.
17	He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.	He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their plea.
18	This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.	Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
19	For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;	The LORD looked down from His sanctuary on high, from heaven He viewed the earth,
20	To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;	to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.
21	To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;	So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem
22	When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.	when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.
23	He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.	In the course of my life He broke my strength; He cut short my days.
24	I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.	So I said: "Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days; Your years go on through all generations.
25	Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.	In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your 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:	They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them and they will be discarded.
27	But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.	But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.
28	The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.	The children of Your servants will live in Your presence; their descendants will be established before You."